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Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Irrelevant Stimuli and Action Control: Analyzing the Influence of Ignored Stimuli via the Distractor-Response Binding Paradigm
Published on: May 14, 2014
An experimental analysis of negative reinforcement contingencies for adult-delivered reprimands
Jonathan R Miller1, Dorothea C Lerman, Jennifer N Fritz
1University of Houston–Clear Lake, 2700 Bay Area Blvd. Box 245, Houston, Texas 77058, USA.
Abstract:
Seven adults participated in simulated teaching sessions with an experimenter who role played as a student with developmental disabilities. The experimenter engaged in problem behavior and either (a) terminated problem behavior contingent on participant reprimands (negative reinforcement) or (b) did not terminate problem behavior contingent on reprimands (extinction). Results suggested that reprimands were sensitive to negative reinforcement in the form of the immediate cessation of problem behavior. These preliminary findings support role play as a potentially viable laboratory model for analyzing behaviors of typical adults.
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