Related Experiment Videos
Assessment of a response bias for aggression over functionally equivalent appropriate behavior
I G DeLeon1, W W Fisher, K M Herman
1Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
|March 30, 2000
Summary
This study examined how reinforcement schedules influence toy requests (mands) versus aggression in a child. Aggression was more likely with similar reinforcement schedules, while mands increased when schedule differences were significant.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral psychology
- Child behavior analysis
Background:
- Understanding reinforcement schedules is crucial for modifying behavior.
- Previous research highlights the impact of reinforcement on operant behavior.
Observation:
- An 11-year-old boy's behavior was observed under different reinforcement schedules.
- The study compared mands for toys with aggression that also produced toys.
Findings:
- Aggression was more probable than mands when reinforcement schedules were equal or slightly discrepant.
- Mands became more probable than aggression when the schedule discrepancy was large.
Implications:
- Findings suggest that differential reinforcement can be used to increase desired behaviors like mands.
- This has implications for therapeutic interventions targeting challenging behaviors in children.