Capitalizing on Existing Stimulus Control: Rules and Goals

1
Capitalizing on Existing Stimulus Control Rules
and Goals

• Chapter 17

2
Rules

• Rule
• Description of a three term contingency of
  reinforcement (antecedents-behavior-consequences)
• Partial rules do not identify all three aspects
  of a contingency of reinforcement
• Command or threat imply that noncompliance will
  be punished

3
Contingency-Shaped Versus Rule-Governed Behavior

• Contingency-shaped behavior
• Behavior that has been strengthened (or weakened)
  in settings by the direct-acting effects of
  consequences in those settings
• Involves immediate consequences
• Strengthened gradually through trial and error
• Rule-governed behavior
• Behavior that is controlled by the statement of a
  rule

4
When Rules Are Especially Helpful

• When rapid behavior change is desirable
• When consequences are delayed
• When natural reinforcers are highly intermittent
• When behavior will lead to immediate and severe
  punishment

5
Why Rules Control Our Behavior

• Although the reinforcer identifiec in a rule
  might be dlayed for an individual, other people
  might provide other immediate consequences if the
  individual follows (or does not follow) a rule
• An individual might follow a rule and then
  immediately make reinforcing statements to
  himself or herself
• Our operant-respondent interactions give us a
  reinforcement history such that following rules
  is automatically strengthened and failure to
  follow rules is automatically punished

6
Effective and Ineffective Rules

• Rules are more likely to be followed if they
• describe behavior specifically
• describe specific circumstances in which the
  behavior should occur
• describe probable consequences
• describe sizeable consequences
• describe deadlines

7
Guidelines for Using Rules Effectively

• Rules should be understandable
• Rules should be effective
• Complex rules should be broken down into
  easy-to-follow steps
• Rules should be delivered in a pleasant,
  courteous manner
• Fading of rules should be used as necessary to
  allow other stimuli that are present to take
  control of the behavior

8
Goals

• Goal
• Describes a level of performance toward which an
  individual or group should work
• Considered to be motivational
• Might be considered as a rule
• Used to influence individuals to work toward some
  objective over a period of time or during a
  number of practice opportunities

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Effective and Ineffective Goal Settting

• Goals are more effective when they
• are specific
• include mastery criteria
• identify the circumstances under which the
  desirable behavior should occur
• are realistic and challenging
• are public
• include deadlines
• include feedback
• when individuals are committed to them

10
Guidelines for Goal Setting

• Set goals that are specific, realistic, and
  challenging
• Identify the specific behaviors and circumstances
  in which they should occur in order to meet the
  goals
• Be clear about the specific consequences that
  might occur for meeting or not meeting the goal
• Break long-term goals into several short-term
  goals
• If the goal is complex, devise an action plan for
  meeting it.
• Set deadlines for goal attainment
• Ensure that individuals involved are committed to
  the goals
• Encourage the learner to share the goals with a
  friendly supporter
• Design a system for monitoring progress toward
  goals
• Provide positive feedback as progress toward
  goals is achieved