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The premack principle, response deprivation, and establishing operations
The Behavior Analyst
|April 6, 2012
Summary
Response deprivation is an establishing operation that alters behavior by changing the value of reinforcers. This analysis clarifies its role in behavioral activity and reinforcement principles.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Operant Conditioning
- Behavioral Economics
Background:
- Establishing operations (EOs) are crucial in understanding behavior change.
- Response deprivation has been linked to the reinforcing effects of behavioral activity.
- The Premack principle is a key concept in behavioral reinforcement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe response deprivation as an establishing operation.
- To review the concept of establishing operations and their effects.
- To place response deprivation within the literature on behavioral activity and reinforcement.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of establishing operations and response deprivation.
- Analysis of the reinforcer-establishing and evocative effects of response deprivation.
- Examination of the relationship between response deprivation and the Premack principle.
Main Results:
- Response deprivation functions as an establishing operation.
- It has both reinforcer-altering and evocative effects on behavior.
- Methodological considerations regarding the evocative effect are addressed.
Conclusions:
- Response deprivation is a valid establishing operation.
- This framework integrates response deprivation with existing behavioral principles.
- Further conceptual and empirical research is warranted.
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