Choice and Verbal Behavior

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the psychology of choice, impulsivity, verbal behavior, and rule-governed behavior.

Choice

Voluntary behavior occurring in a context in which alternative behaviors are possible.

Reinforcer Size/Quality

Individuals choose larger (higher-quality) reinforcers over smaller (lower-quality) reinforcers.

Effort

Individuals choose low-effort reinforcers over high-effort reinforcers.

Reinforcer Delay

Individuals choose more immediate reinforcers over delayed reinforcers of the same value.

Impulsive Choice

Choosing the smaller-sooner reward over the larger-later reward.

Self-Control Choice

Choosing the larger-later reward over the smaller-sooner reward.

Delay Discounting Curve

A hyperbolic prediction of responding that compares the subjective value of immediate versus delayed rewards.

Subjective Value

The perceived worth of a reward, which may change based on delay or reinforcer size.

Echoic

A verbal operant where the response corresponds with a verbal antecedent stimulus.

Mand

A verbal operant occasioned by an establishing operation and maintained by a verbally specified reinforcer.

Tact

A verbal operant occasioned by a nonverbal stimulus, maintained by social reinforcers.

Intraverbal

A verbal response occasioned by a verbal stimulus without point-to-point correspondence.

Symmetric Relational Responding

The behavior of relating two arbitrary stimuli as equivalent.

Stimulus Equivalence

Demonstrating symmetric relational responding after teaching a unidirectional relation between stimuli.

Rule-Governed Behavior

Behavior influenced by a verbal description of the operative three-term contingency.

Pliance

Rule-governed behavior occurring due to socially mediated positive or negative reinforcers.

Tracking

Rule-following that occurs when instructions correctly describe real-world operant contingencies.