Abstract:
Behavioural momentum theory states that resistance to disruption is governed by the overall reinforcer rate available in a stimulus context, and provides a measure of response strength. Behavioural treatments which decrease problem behaviour by concurrently reinforcing appropriate behaviour can inadvertently increase the resistance of problem behaviour by providing additional reinforcement in the same stimulus context. In these procedures, the availability of alternative reinforcement is signalled by a stimulus (e.g. the presence of the therapist). These signals may affect behaviour in applied settings, as basic studies show that signalled schedules are preferred over unsignalled schedules. Previous research shows that preference and resistance to disruption are convergent expressions of response strength, so procedures enhancing preference should likewise enhance resistance to disruption. We trained pigeons on a three-component multiple schedule. In two components, the same reinforcer rates were arranged on concurrent alternative and target response keys. In the control component, only target responses were reinforced. In Component 1 only, the alternative key changed colour, signalling that reinforcement was arranged for the next response. Five disruption conditions were introduced to assess the resistance of the three target responses. The disruptors were pre-feeding, extinction with empty hoppers, extinction with the signalling stimulus still present in Component 1, extinction with the absence of the signalling stimulus, and inter-component interval food. Signalled availability of alternative reinforcement had unsystematic effects on target resistance. However, the finding that target resistance was not consistently the lowest in the control component was problematic. Despite this, we can tentatively conclude that signalling the availability of reinforcement in applied procedures may not affect the resistance of problem behaviour.
