Generalisation of self control from a fading procedure in a multiple concurrent schedule
Carole F. Morritt · University of Canterbury Research Repository (University of Canterbury) · 1991
Self control is an issue which is central to everyday life and the choices we make. From an operant behavioural perspective, self control can be described as choosing a larger more delayed reinforcer instead of a smaller more immediate reinforcer. Experiment 1 replicated a fading procedure in a single concurrent chain, with the subjects performing fewer sessions at each delay step than usual. No significant increases in self control were found, however graphs of the log response ratios conformed to the pattern which is typically found in a fading procedure. Experiment 2 involved the manipulation of several variables which are thought to influence self control. This was done in order to make responding more impulsive so that a fading proedure could be carried out in one of two concurrent chains which alternated in a multiple schedule. Increased deprivation and performing each component separately led to the largest increases in self control. In Experiment 3 a fading procedure was performed in one concurrent chain, whilst the other concurrent chain (with which it alternated) remained as a choice between a smaller earlier and a larger later reinforcer. Again, no significant increases in self control occurred as a result of the fading procedure. However, unlike in Experiment 1, no response pattern typical of a fading procedure was found. In the non-fading component, it was expected that more choices of the large reinforcer would be made when the subjects learned to be more self controlled (as sensitivity to delay decreased and large reinforcer choices increased). A conclusion could not be made regarding this issue. The literature suggests that self control does not generalize to other behaviours as easily as previously assumed. In future research it would be beneficial to examine the limits of generalization and to investigate the conditions which will facilitate the generalization of self control.