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The cost of an interrupted response pattern

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 February 2010

Thomas R. Zentall
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexinton, KY 40506zentall@ukcc

Abstract

Rachlin proposes that the mechanism underlying self-control involves the cost incurred in changing one's response pattern, but his account explains neither how the response pattern is originally established nor why a change in response pattern entails a cost. I suggest that response patterns occur because they tend to be effective (thus alternatives are more costly) and are maintained because the decision process itself is costly.

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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