title: An evaluation of resistance to change with unconditioned and conditioned reinforcers.
abstract: Several reinforcer-related variables influence a response's resistance to change (Nevin, 1974). Reinforcer type (i.e., conditioned or unconditioned) is a reinforcer-related variable that has not been studied with humans but may have clinical implications. In Experiment 1, we identified unconditioned and conditioned reinforcers of equal preference. In Experiments 2, 3, and 4, we reinforced participants' behavior during a baseline phase using a multiple variable-interval (VI) 30-s VI 30-s schedule with either conditioned (i.e., token) or unconditioned (i.e., food; one type of reinforcement in each component) reinforcement. After equal reinforcement rates across components, we introduced a disruptor. Results of Experiments 2 and 3 showed that behaviors were more resistant to extinction and distraction, respectively, with conditioned than with unconditioned reinforcers. Results of Experiment 4, however, showed that when prefeeding disrupted responding, behaviors were more resistant to change with unconditioned reinforcers than with conditioned reinforcers.
authors.affiliation: SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY.
authors.forename: Kristina K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Vargo
authors.affiliation: SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY.
authors.forename: Joel E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ringdahl
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology
keywords: behavioral momentum theory; distraction; extinction; persistence; resistance to change; unconditioned and conditioned reinforcement