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Behavioral Momentum Theory Of Punishment

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Behavioral Momentum Theory Of Punishment
Punishment is a response-dependent environmental change that reduces the future probability of a response (Azrin & Holz, 1966). Punishment contingencies are frequent in the natural environment (Skinner, 1953); however, our understanding of punishment contains substantial gaps, and basic research on punishment has declined rapidly over the past 40 years (Baron, 1991; Lerman & Vorndran, 2002). Furthering the understanding punishment as a process would have not only basic and theoretical implications, but applied implications as well, as common treatments (e.g., response blocking, guided compliance) may reduce problematic behavior through the mechanism of punishment (Lerman & Vorndran, 2002).
Both parameters of the punishing stimulus and the …show more content…
Resistance to change is thought to be dependent upon the Pavlovian stimulus-reinforcer relation in the three term contingency, and independent of the response-reinforcer relation (Nevin & Grace, 2000). General findings are that responses maintained on richer schedules of reinforcement are more resistant to change than those maintained on leaner schedules of reinforcement (Nevin & Grace, 2000). Resistance to change is often measured as responses in a particular session following disruption as proportion of an average of baseline, which accounts for differences in the baseline rates of responding, unlike absolute response rates (Nevin, Mandell, & Atak, 1983). The findings of Behavioral Momentum Theory have been consistent across a variety of disruptors, such as extinction (Nevin, 2012), pre-feeding (Nevin, 1974), and response-independent reinforcers provided during intercomponent-intervals (Harper, …show more content…
In a multiple schedule, Blackman (1968b; Exp. 2) arranged conditions with nearly identical reinforcement rates but employed pacing schedules such that response rates higher in on component (VI DRH) than the other component (VI DRL). Contrary to predictions of Behavioral Momentum Theory, rates in high rate component (VI DRH) were relatively more suppressed by the pre-shock stimulus than were low rates (VI DRL). Additional support for the contribution of the response-reinforcer relation was provided by Lattal (1989). Lattal (1989) arranged a two component multiple schedule, in which a tandem VI 100-s (or 300-s for two pigeons) FR 10 was in effect one component, and a tandem VI 100-s (or 300-s of for two pigeons) DRL 5-s schedule was in effect the other component. These conditions arranged different response rates but equated reinforcement rates. Baseline conditions then alternated with conditions in which variable time (VT) food was delivered during the 15-s blackout period between components. Results showed that response rates in the tandem VI DRL component changed less than those in the tandem VI FR component and therefore, lower responses rates were more resistant to change than were higher response rates when reinforcement was held constant. Similarly, Nevin, Grace, Holland, and McLeen (2001; Exp. 2)
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