Association for Behavior Analysis International

The endowment effect describes the tendency to assign greater value to an object they possess than they do to the same object when it is not in their possession. Collective bargaining negotiations between unions and employers occur in a context in which the endowment effect is likely to occur. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of delay to changes, magnitude of workload negotiated, and hypothetical group collaboration on the endowment effect. Part of the sample (N = 22) completed the task both as sellers and buyers. The remainder of participants (N = 92) were randomly assigned to either role. Participants were asked to name the minimum salary increase they would accept to work additional hours, or the maximum salary decrease they would accept to work fewer hours. Delay for changes to go into effect, magnitude of workload negotiated, and perceived collaboration with others were manipulated. Results were consistent with the previous literature. Seller prices exceeded buyer prices. The increase in workload being negotiated and hypothetical group size collaborating magnified the WTA-WTP gap. Delay did not influence the WTA-WTP gap.

The opioid epidemic continues to worsen in the United States. It is important that we identify possible supplements to strengthen rehabilitation therapies. The present study uses classically conditioned contextual stimuli to reduce withdrawal symptoms both during and after drug abstinence. Twice daily injections of morphine (10 mg/kg s.c.) were administered to adult male Sprague-Dawley rats until behavioral tolerance was observed in operant responding on variable ratio (VR-4) schedules for water reinforcement. Withdrawal symptoms were determined based on changes in grooming behaviors, completed variable ratios, and amount of defecation relative to non-drug baseline measures. Statistical analysis were performed across the five days of withdrawal. For grooming measures with the context-stimuli group producing a significantly greater number of responses during withdrawal; indicating a drug-opposite response. There was a significant difference (p>0.1) across the 5 days of withdrawal for completed response ratios, with the context-stimulus group having a considerably greater number of responses during withdrawal; indicating a drug-opposite response. For defecation behavior, a significant difference (p=.154) was observed for defecation during the withdrawal between the three groups. No significant difference was observed in grooming behaviors across the withdrawal period. Contextual stimuli may offer a target for procedures that may enhance rehabilitation therapies.