Suppression by reinforcement, a model for multiple-schedule behavioral contrast

The present paper argues that multiple-schedule behavioral contrast occurs because delayed reinforces suppress behavior. According to this idea, some reinforcers delivered in the second component of a multiple schedule suppress responding during the first component because they follow that responding after a delay. Removing second-component reinforcers removes suppression from the first component and response rates rise, creating positive contrast. Adding second-component reinforcers adds suppression and response rates fall, creating negative contrast. The paper shows that this idea is consistent with the major findings in the contrast literature.