PS261 Chapter 7: RESPONSE ALLOCATION APPROACH
Document Summary
Species typical consummatory responses (eating, drinking etc) are themselves the critical feature of reinforcers. Moved search for reinforcers from special kinds of stimuli to special types of responses, special because they involve the consummation of an instictive behaviour sequence. Theory assumed consummatory responses (ex chewing, swallowing) are fundamentally different from various potential instrumental responses like running, pressing a lever etc. Premack pointed out responses that accompany commonly used reinforcers involve activities that individuals are highly likely to perform. This different in response probabilities is critical for reinforcement. Bc premack principle focuses on difference in likelihood of the instrumental and reinforcer responses it is also called the differential probability principle. Eating will reinforce bar pressing bc eating is more likely than bar pressing. Thus premack said there is nothing special about food or eating behaviour. Any high probability activity can be an effective reinforcer for a response that the individual is not inclined to perform.
