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ENHANCING TOLERANCE TO DELAYED REINFORCERS: THE ROLE OF INTERVENING ACTIVITIES
Author(s) -
Dixon Mark R.,
Rehfeldt Ruth Anne,
Randich Lysette
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of applied behavior analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1938-3703
pISSN - 0021-8855
DOI - 10.1901/jaba.2003.36-263
Subject(s) - psychology , reinforcement , developmental psychology , social psychology
Three participants with moderate to profound mental retardation were exposed to choices between an immediate small amount and a delayed larger amount of a preferred reinforcer. All participants initially showed a relatively high preference for the smaller reinforcer, suggesting impulsive choice making. However this preference reversed, suggesting self‐control, when the larger reinforcer was available immediately and, over time, its delay was gradually increased. Results highlight the potential utility of incorporating concurrent activities into self‐control training paradigms.