The effects of choice on behaviour Flashcards
Lecture 7 (14 cards)
What is the Matching Law in behavioural psychology?
The relative rate of a behaviour matches the relative rate of reinforcement for that behaviour.
What is a concurrent schedule?
A situation where two or more behaviours are available, each with its own reinforcement schedule.
What is Differential Reinforcement of Other behaviours (DRO)?
A method where an unwanted behaviour is reduced by reinforcing an alternative, competing behaviour → uses matching law.
What is inter-temporal choice?
Choosing between a smaller immediate reward and a larger delayed reward.
What is temporal discounting?
The tendency for the subjective value of a reward to decrease as the delay to its receipt increases.
Why do delayed rewards lose value?
- Risk of loss over time.
- Transaction costs (effort required to obtain the reward).
What is self-control in inter-temporal choice?
The ability to delay immediate gratification in favour of a larger, longer-term reward.
What is impulsivity in inter-temporal choice?
Choosing a smaller, immediate reward over a larger, delayed reward, often due to reduced subjective value of the delayed outcome.
How can self-control be improved?
• Remove triggers for impulsive behaviour.
• Use precommitment strategies.
• Make long-term rewards more salient.
• Set rules and implementation intentions.
• Reinforce behaviours that lead to long-term goals.
• Delay access to impulsive choices.
What is Pavlovian-Instrumental Transfer (PIT)?
When Pavlovian cues associated with outcomes bias instrumental behaviour toward responses that produce those outcomes (e.g., cue-induced craving).
What is cue-induced craving?
A craving triggered by cues previously associated with a reward (e.g., drugs), which can lead to relapse.
What is incubation of craving?
The gradual increase of craving over time after abstinence, peaking before eventually declining.
How is cue-induced craving measured?
• Self-report: Often shows little change.
• Neural measures (EEG): Show increased reactivity over time.
What is the belief-desire model of motivation?
A. The person knows an action leads to an outcome.
B. The person desires the outcome.
C. Therefore, the person performs the action.
