Deck 17: Antecedent Control: Rules and Goals

Question 1

How might we explain the behavior of someone who fails to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle even though that person knows that wearing a helmet could prevent brain damage from an accident?

Answer 1

There are two reasons.First, there may be immediate mild punishers for wearing a helmet (e.g., it may be hot and uncomfortable).Second, rules are very ineffective if they identify a behavior that has a low probability of being associated with consequences.

Question 2

How might we account for the relative ineffectiveness of such rules as "I'm going to stop eating sweets"?

Answer 2

There are two reasons.First, there are immediate consequences for behavior that are incompatible with the behavior specified by the rule (e.g., extra deserts are very reinforcing and flossing one's teeth is likely to be mildly aversive).Second, the consequences for complying with the rule are too small to be effective on any one instance, and are only cumulatively significant (it takes many extra deserts to have hazardous health effects, and many missed instances of flossing one's teeth to be harmful).

Question 3

A teacher complains to you, "When I tell the children to stay at their desks and work, they never listen to me." Describe the contingencies that are likely operating with respect to that rule given by the teacher to the kids in the class.

Answer 3

It is likely that following the rule by the children is not reinforced, and emitting behavior contrary to the rule is reinforced and/or not punished.Other plausible answers are also acceptable.

Question 4

From a behavioral perspective, why might realistic, challenging goals be more effective than do-your-best goals?

Question 5

Give an example of an indirect effect of a reinforcer for your behavior.

Question 6

Give an example of a rule that was stated by the figure skater just before competing.

Question 7

Briefly list six of the eight conditions that summarize effective versus ineffective goal setting as a behavior modification strategy.

Question 8

In general, what do we mean by the word goal? Give an example of a behavioral goal that is not in this chapter. Give an example of an outcome goal that is not in this chapter.

Question 9

From a behavioral perspective, why might public goals be more effective than private goals?

Question 10

Define rule behaviorally and give an example that is not in this chapter.

Question 11

Is goal setting different from using rules? Discuss.

Question 12

Give an example of a partial rule that is not in this chapter. What aspects of the three-term contingency does your partial rule identify? What are the missing parts that the partial rule implied?

Question 13

Briefly describe four situations in which the addition of rules to a behavior modification program might be especially helpful. Give an example of each.

Question 14

Describe, using examples, three explanations for why we might follow rules that identify very delayed consequences.

Question 15

Describe two common differences between rule-governed and contingency-shaped behavior.

Question 16

Define contingency-shaped behavior, and give an example that is not in this chapter.

Question 17

Explain (in terms of contextual stimulus control, as described in Note 3 of Chapter 9)why the tone of voice of someone giving you instructions might determine whether you will follow the instructions.

Question 18

What is a mastery criterion? Give an example that is not in this chapter.

Question 19

Define rule-governed behavior, and give an example that is not in this chapter.

Question 20

In a couple of sentences, distinguish between rules that are often effective versus rules that are often weak or ineffective in controlling behavior.

Question 21

List five rules that are a part of a behavioral treatment for insomnia.

Question 22

What do the authors mean by commitment in the context of goal setting?