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| The Four Causes of Schedule-Induced Behaviors: Experimental and Applied Implications |
| Thursday, May 25, 2023 |
| 4:00 PM–7:00 PM |
| Convention Center Mile High Ballroom 2A |
| Area: EAB/PCH; Domain: Basic Research |
| CE Instructor: Jeff Kupfer, Ph.D. |
| JEFF KUPFER (University of Colorado Denver), RON F. ALLEN (Simmons University) |
| Description: Adjunctive or schedule-induced behaviors (sometimes maladaptive and always excessive) are behaviors that are maintained at a high probability by stimuli that derive their reinforcing properties as a function of parameters governing the availability of some other class of reinforcement. In non-human subjects, some schedules of reinforcement have been shown to generate strange behaviors such as: polydipsia, attack against members of its own species, self-induced escape, pica, and hyperactivity; In human subjects, these same schedules can exaggerate behaviors such as fluid intake, aggression, pacing, grooming, eating, stereotypic behavior, smoking and, quite possibly-- “wretched excess”. This presentation provides a new framework for schedule-induced behaviors that organizes sixty years of research and theoretical literature. A video-tape will be shown demonstrating various types of schedule-induced behaviors in a rat and pigeon. Studies describing functional relationships with reinforcement schedules and “generator schedules” (i.e., schedules promoting schedule-induced behaviors) will be reviewed, as well as functional assessment and measurement strategies. Alternative reinforcement strategies in applied settings will be reviewed and case studies will be presented comparing fixed- vs. variable-DRO schedules |
| Learning Objectives: (1) Attendees will describe the Aristotelian four causes of schedule-induced behaviors (2) Attendees will describe methods to measure and assess schedule-induced behaviors (3) Attendees will describe pitfalls in using common schedules of reinforcement (4) Attendees will describe alternatives to minimize the influence of schedule-induced behaviors |
| Activities: Instructional strategies: lecture, discussion Workshop objectives will be met through lecture, video presentation, assessments. The format combines lecture and discussion |
| Audience: Masters level BCBAs or higher |
| Content Area: Practice |
| Instruction Level: Intermediate |