Chapter+22+Analogs+to+Reinforcement,+Part+1+ANSWERS

** Analogs to Reinforcement, Part 1 ** ** ANSWERS **
 * Chapter 22 **

REVIEW: Please write the definition for both a **direct-acting contingency** and an **indirect-acting contingency**


 * ANSWER:**
 * Direct-acting contingency –** A contingency for which the outcome of the response reinforces or punishes that response.
 * Indirect-acting contingency –** A contingency that controls the response, but not because the outcome reinforces or punishes that response.


 * 1.** Direct-acting versus indirect-acting contingencies.
 * a.** What’s the common confusion?


 * ANSWER:** People often fail to discriminate between the two types of contingencies and falsely treat indirect-acting contingencies as if they were direct-acting.


 * b.** What problems can arise from a failure to discriminate between the two types of contingencies?


 * ANSWER:** The problem that arises from this failure to discriminate is that people will often believe that Rudolph the rat’s behavior can be controlled by the same contingencies that control verbal humans' behaviors! This is untrue because the behavior of nonverbal organisms can only be controlled by direct-acting contingencies, while the behavior of verbal organisms can be controlled by direct or indirect-acting contingencies. This type of thinking can lead to faulty experiments or ineffective treatments which won’t help benefit humanity.


 * c.** Compare and contrast


 * ANSWER:**
 * **Similarities:** Both of these contingencies function similarly in that they both can control behavior.
 * **Crucial Differences:** There are two main differences between these two types of contingencies. The first is that for direct-acting contingencies, the outcome **does** reinforce or punish the behavior. This is what controls the behavior. For indirect-acting contingencies, the outcome of the response **doesn’t** reinforce or punish the response. It is the **statement of a rule** that controls behavior. The second difference that exists between these two types of contingencies is that while direct-acting contingencies can control the behavior of ALL organisms, indirect-acting contingencies can only control the behavior of VERBAL organisms.
 * Both contingencies can control behavior
 * With direct-acting contingencies the outcome does reinforce or punish the response. These contingencies control the behavior of all organisms
 * With indirect-acting contingencies the outcome does not reinforce or punish the response. These contingencies control only the behavior of verbal organisms


 * d.** Provide a pair of contrasting everyday contingencies illustrating the difference between these two types of contingencies.


 * ANSWER:**

**Direct-acting Reinforcement Contingency**



**Indirect-acting Reinforcement Contingency**




 * e.** Using the examples that you’ve provided, please compare and contrast the two types of contingencies using the terminology that you provided in your answer to 1c of this chapter.


 * ANSWER:** While both contingencies control an individual’s behavior who is **verbal**, only the outcome in the first example of turning on the T.V. reinforces the response of turning on the T.V. The outcome for setting the DVD player to record your favorite soap opera does not reinforce your response, but it is the statement of the rule in which, “setting the DVD player to record will result in your being able to still watch your favorite soap opera,” that controls your behavior.
 * Both contingencies control a verbal organism's behavior
 * In the first example, the outcome of T.V. on reinforces pressing the power on remote
 * The outcome for setting the DVD player to record does not reinforce that response. The statement of the rule controls the behavior