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Approach-withdrawal response competition (AW-RC), displacement, and behavior modification
The Journal of General Psychology
|October 1, 1978
Summary
Displacement theory in animal research shows displacement and extinction effects are supported, but therapeutic benefits are not. Time-delay interventions, however, demonstrate significant therapeutic effects.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral science
- Animal behavior research
- Clinical psychology
Background:
- Approach-withdrawal response competition (AW-RC) is a framework for understanding behavior.
- Displacement theory, derived from AW-RC, is often conflated with broader behavior modification.
- Lack of operational analysis has hindered understanding and research in AW-RC displacement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review displacement theory and animal research within the AW-RC framework.
- To examine the clinical implications of AW-RC displacement.
- To clarify the distinction between AW-RC displacement and general behavior modification.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of animal research on displacement theory and AW-RC.
- Analysis of studies examining the displacement effect, extinction effect, and therapeutic effect.
- Evaluation of time-delay interventions and their therapeutic outcomes.
Main Results:
- Strong empirical support for the displacement effect and extinction effect of displacement.
- Lack of evidence supporting the therapeutic effect of displacement.
- Time-delay interventions, involving eating under deprivation in irrelevant contexts, show substantial therapeutic effects.
Conclusions:
- AW-RC displacement effects are empirically supported, but not therapeutically beneficial.
- Time-delay interventions offer significant therapeutic potential within the AW-RC framework.
- Further research into separable aspects of AW-RC behavior is warranted.