Chapter 10: Choice, Matching & Self-control

Concurrent Schedule of reinforcement

consists of the simultaneous two or more independent schedules, each leading to a reinforcer

matching law

holds that the portion of responses emitted on a particular schedule matches the portion of reinforcers obtained on that schedule

undermatching

the proportion of responses on the richer schedule vs the poorer schedule is less different than would be predicted by matching

overmatching

the proportion of responses on the richer schedule vs the poorer schedule is more different that would be predicted by matching

bias from matching

occurs when one response alternative attracts a higher proportion of responses than would be predicted by matching regardless of whether that alternative contains the richer or poorer schedule of reinforcement

changeover delay (COD)

when there is a delay after switching over to the other option before there is any actually earned reinforcer

melioration theory

the distribution of behavior in a choice situation shifts towards those alternatives that have higher value regardless of the long-term effect on the overall amount of reinforcement

self-control (Dr. Hunter)

delaying gratification for a better reward

physical restraint

type of controlling response where you physically manipulate the environment to prevent the occurrence of some sort of problem behavior

depriving & satiating

utilize the motivating operations of deprivation & satiation to alter the extent to which a certain event can act as a reinforcer

do something else (distraction)

prevent yourself from engaging in certain behaviors (can perform a alternate behavior)

self-reinforcement & self-punishment

self-control tactic that is to simply to reinforce your own behavior

delay of gratification

the task of choosing between such alternatives

self-control (book)

consists of choosing a larger later reward over a smaller sooner reward

impulsiveness

consists of choosing a smaller sooner reward over a larger later reward

commitment response

is an action carried our at an early point in time that serves either to eliminate or greatly reduce the value of upcoming temptation

small-but-cumulative effects model

each individual choice on self-control task has only a small but cumulative effect on our likelihood of obtaining the desired long-term outcome