Dynamic changes in reinforcer effectiveness: theoretical, methodological, and practical implications for applied research

Eric S Murphy; Frances K McSweeney; Richard G Smith; Jennifer J McComas

doi:10.1901/jaba.2003.36-421

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Dynamic changes in reinforcer effectiveness: theoretical, methodological, and practical implications for applied research

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Dynamic changes in reinforcer effectiveness: theoretical, methodological, and practical implications for applied research

Eric S Murphy, Frances K McSweeney, Richard G Smith and Jennifer J McComas

Journal of applied behavior analysis, Vol.36(4), pp.421-438

2003

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.2003.36-421

Handle:

https://hdl.handle.net/2376/108995

PMCID: PMC1284459

PMID: 14768663

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Abstract

Animals

Motivation

Habituation, Psychophysiologic

Humans

Psychology, Applied - methods

Reinforcement (Psychology)

Token Economy

Treatment Outcome

Research

Satiation

Behavior Therapy - methods

Reinforcers lose their effectiveness when they are presented repeatedly. Traditionally, this loss of effectiveness has been labeled satiation. However, recent evidence suggests that habituation provides a more accurate and useful description. The characteristics of behavior undergoing satiation differ for different stimuli (e.g., food, water), and these characteristics have not been identified for the noningestive reinforcers often used by applied behavior analysts (e.g., praise, attention). As a result, the term satiation provides little guidance for either maintaining or reducing the effectiveness of reinforcers. In contrast, the characteristics of behavior undergoing habituation are well known and are relatively general across species and stimuli. These characteristics provide specific and novel guidance about how to maintain or reduce the effectiveness of a reinforcer. In addition, habituation may lead to a better understanding of several puzzling phenomena in the conditioning literature (e.g., extinction, behavioral contrast), and it may provide a more precise and accurate description of the dynamics of many different types of behavior.

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Details

Title: Dynamic changes in reinforcer effectiveness: theoretical, methodological, and practical implications for applied research
Creators: Eric S Murphy - Department of Psychology, University of Alaska Anchorage, 99508, USA. afesm@uaa.alaska.edu
Frances K McSweeney
Richard G Smith
Jennifer J McComas
Publication Details: Journal of applied behavior analysis, Vol.36(4), pp.421-438
Academic Unit: Psychology, Department of
Publisher: United States
Grant note: R01 MH 61720 / NIMH NIH HHS
Identifiers: 99900547143801842
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article