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The behavior of self-control

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 February 2010

Joseph J. Plaud
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202-8380. plaud@badlands.nodak.edu

Abstract

Rachlin's view of self-control as a sequence or chain of behaviors is contrasted with traditional behavioral analyses of self-control which emphasize a simplistic interpretation of the hyperbolic function relating small-sooner (SS) and larger-later (LL) reinforcers to specific behaviors. The validity of Rachlin's teleological analysis is examined in relation to the acquisition and steady-state performance of self-control behaviors. Central to an analysis of self-control is the functional difference between behavior under the control of SS and LL reinforcers, because SS-reinforced behavior is more complex due to temporal parameters.

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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