What Is the Premack Principle Definition and Examples

The Premack principle is a theory of reinforcement that states that a less desired behavior can be reinforced by the opportunity to engage in a more desired behavior. The theory is named after its originator, psychologist David Premack. Key Takeaways: The Premack Principle The Premack principle states that a higher probability behavior will reinforce a less probable behavior.Created by psychologist David Premack, the principle has become a hallmark of applied behavior analysis and behavior modification.The Premack principle has received empirical support and is frequently applied in child rearing and dog training. It is also known as relativity theory of reinforcement or grandmas rule. Origins of the Premack Principle Before the Premack principle was introduced, operant conditioning held that reinforcement was contingent upon the association of a single behavior and a single consequence. For example, if a student does well on a test, the studying behavior that resulted in his success will be reinforced if the teacher compliments him. In 1965, psychologist David Premack expanded on this idea to show that one behavior could reinforce another. Premack was studying Cebus monkeys when he observed that behaviors that an individual naturally engages in at a higher frequency are more rewarding than those the individual engages in at a lower frequency. He suggested that the more rewarding, higher-frequency behaviors could reinforce the less rewarding, low-frequency behaviors. Supporting Research Since Premack first shared his ideas, multiple studies with both people and animals have supported the principle that bears his name. One of the earliest studies was conducted by Premack himself. Premack first determined if his young child participants preferred playing pinball or eating candy. He then tested them in two scenarios: one in which the children had to play pinball in order to eat candy and the other in which they had to eat candy in order to play pinball. Premack found that in each scenario, only the children who preferred the second behavior in the sequence showed a reinforcement effect, evidence for the Premack principle. In a later study by Allen and Iwata demonstrated that exercising amongst a group of people with developmental disabilities increased when playing games (a high-frequency behavior) was made contingent on exercising (a low-frequency behavior). In another study, Welsh, Bernstein, and Luthans found that when fast food workers were promised more time working at their favorite stations if their performance met specific standards, the quality of their performance at other workstations improved.   Brenda Geiger found that providing seventh and eighth grade students with time to play on the playground could reinforce learning by making play contingent on the completion of their work in the classroom. In addition to increasing learning, this simple reinforcer increased students’ self-discipline and the time they spent on each task, and reduced the need for teachers to discipline students Examples The Premack principle can successfully be applied in many settings and has become a hallmark of applied behavior analysis and behavior modification. Two areas in which the application of the Premack principle has proven especially useful is child rearing and dog training. For example, when teaching a dog how to play fetch, the dog must learn that if he wants to chase the ball again (highly desired behavior), he must bring the ball back to his owner and drop it (less desired behavior). The Premack principle is used all the time with children. Many parents have told children they must eat their vegetables before they can have dessert or they have to finish their homework before they’re allowed to play a video game. This tendency of caregivers to use the principle is why it is sometimes called â€Å"grandma’s rule.† While it can be very effective with children of all ages, it’s important to note that not all children are equally motivated by the same rewards. Therefore, in order to successfully apply the Premack principle, caregivers must determine the behaviors that are most highly motivating to the child. Limitations of the Premacks Principle There are several limitations to the Premack principle. First, one’s response to an application of the principle is dependent on context. The other activities available to the individual at a given moment and the individual’s preferences will play a role in whether the chosen reinforcer will produce the less-probable behavior. Second, a high-frequency behavior will often occur at a lower rate when it’s contingent on a low-frequency behavior than when it’s not contingent on anything. This could be the result of there being too great a difference between the probability of performing the high and low frequency behaviors. For example, if one hour of study time only earns one hour of video game play and studying is an extremely low-frequency behavior while video game playing is an extremely high-frequency behavior, the individual may decide against studying to earn video game time because the large amount of study time is too onerous. Sources Barton, Erin E. Premack Principle. Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders, edited by Fred R. Volkmar, Springer, 2013, p. 95. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1698-3Geiger, Brenda. A Time to Learn, A Time to Play: Premacks Principle Applied in the Classroom. American Secondary Education, 1996. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED405373.pdfGibeault, Stephanie. Understanding the Premack Principle in Dog Training. American Kennel Club, 5 July, 2018. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/what-is-the-premack-principle-in-dog-training/Johanning, Mary Lea. Premack Principle. Encyclopedia of School Psychology, edited by Steven W. Lee, Sage, 2005. http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412952491.n219Kyonka, Elizabeth G. E. Premack Principle. Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development, edited by Sam Goldstein and Jack A. Naglieri, Springer, 2011, pp. 1147-1148. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_2219Psynso. Premacks Principle. https://psynso.com/premacks-principle/Premack, David. T owards Empirical Behavior Laws: I. Positive Reinforcement. Psychological Review, vol. 66, no. 4, 1959, pp. 219-233. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0040891Welsh, Dianne H.B., Daniel J. Bernstein, and Fred Luthans. Application of the Premack Principle of Reinforcement to the Quality Performance Service Employees. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, vol. 13, no. 1, 1993, pp. 9-32. https://doi.org/10.1300/J075v13n01_03

State Ready Mix Inc. V. Moffatt And Nichol - 2356 Words

Case #1: State Ready Mix Inc. v. Moffatt Nichol (2015) Cal. App. 4th Case Number: No. B253421. Second Dist., Div. Six. Jan. 8, 2015. Parties Involved: †¢ State Ready Mix, Inc: Appellant and Cross Complainant †¢ Moffatt Nichol: Respondent, Cross Defendant †¢ Vincent J. O’Neal: Judge Project Specifications: No specifications were given within the document. Date and Location of Case: †¢ Date: 01/08/2015 †¢ Location: California Court of Appeals, Second District, 6th Division Summary of Case: In 2012, a marine project manager called Bellingham Marine Inc. (â€Å"Bellingham†) hired Major Engineering Marine Inc. (â€Å"Major†) for a project to build a travel lift pier at a harbor. Bellingham then hired a civil engineering firm, Moffatt Nichol†¦show more content†¦The overdose of the chemical came about because of a calculation error. Major had to destroy and rebuild the pier and sued State for damages and State filed a cross-complaint alleging that Moffatt did not use reasonable care in the approval of the design. Three attempts at pleads were made and it was determined that Moffat was not in privity of contract with Major or State due to State being subjected to the economic loss rule. Court Decision: The court ruled that State could not sue for equitable indemnity or contribution based on the fact that there was no evidence that Moffatt owed a duty of care or that Moffatt was negligent. The court also determined that there was no contractual relationship between State and Major and that a person or other property was not damaged. Based on the two core findings, all cross complaints made by State are disregarded and State is found to be solely responsible for the damages. Moffatt is also awarded costs on the appeal. Further Actions: This case was the last appealed case of the series and therefore, no other actions followed. This is because the judge affirmed the case as â€Å"an order sustaining demurrer without leave to amend†. This statement means that the plaintiff cannot amend the complaint. Commentary: Opinion of Case The case seems to be strait forward with the fact that State is at fault for the

Health Benefits of Cigars Free Essays

Health Benefits of Cigars From the prehistoric times to voyages to the new world, cigars and tobacco have been used in varied methods that are important to man, and one of them is the various Health Benefits of using cigars. These benefits are as follows: Beneficial for Alzheimer’s Patients Studies since the 1900’s have shown that nicotine imitates a certain part of the brain called neurotransmitters and is known to affect an abundant number of this important part of the brain. Research has shown the effect of nicotine to increased brain function. We will write a custom essay sample on Health Benefits of Cigars or any similar topic only for you Order Now As Alzheimer’s is characterized by affected neurons in the basal forebrain linked with loss of nicotinic receptors, it was found out that nicotine have important effects to this cells, increasing not only the regulation of flow of blood in the brain but also cognition.. Control effects of Tourette’s Syndrome Data from a recent study showed that nicotine can control the effects of Tourette’s syndrome; these effects are characterized by physical tics and uncontrollable vocalizations which are often filled with obscenities. A series of case studies showed long-term control of tics, vocalizations and other symptoms by the effect of nicotine, the active ingredient in cigars. Stabilize patients with Schizophrenia New data indicating that nicotine can regulate some of the psychophysiological symptoms seen in patients with schizophrenia have been uncovered in recent studies in patients who are suffering from schizophrenia. This disease is very hard to understand and to treat, that is why understanding the effect of nicotine this illness is crucial. Good Memory and Cognition The effect of smoking cigars not only encompasses persons suffering from diseases of the neurons in the brain but also the normal and healthy person. Clinical studies have shown that effect of nicotine to non-smoking persons produces significant improvements in long-term recall and attention span. Analgesic Research has shown that the active ingredient in cigars, which is nicotine, has an effect that relaxes muscles. Its effect on the peripheral nervous systems is very much alike to analgesics so cigars, in case of emergencies can be used as pain relievers. Control Intestinal Parasites and Worms Cigars can be used to control some intestinal parasites and worms, ingesting small amount of cigar, the equivalent of 1-1. 5 of cigarette, can be used to kill this parasites. After 24 hours of ingesting the cigar, passing of the parasites can be noticed due to toxic effect of nicotine to the parasites. Stress Relief Most cigar smokers will tell you that cigars help them relax and ease the tension and stress after a hard day’s work. Stress is associated with many illnesses such as hypertension, migraines and others, and should not be taken lightly. The effect of cigars is very important to lower the stress levels of a person. Appetite and Diet It is known that small doses of cigar smoking stimulate appetite and large doses can depress hunger and thirst. By using one product, in this case cigars, people can have their desired effect on their appetite, either dieting or gaining some pounds. How to cite Health Benefits of Cigars, Essay examples

Blanchard Case Analysis free essay sample

Correct the EOQ and ROP quantities for each of the five items mentioned in the case. How do the corrected figures compare with the quantities calculated in 1969 and with production volumes scheduled for the June 1972 bottling run? The corrected numbers are much smaller than the scheduled amounts. If Blanchard did produce what they had originally planned, they would have a lot of unused inventory. What are the disadvantages of the formal EOQ/ROP system and the actual system used for scheduling bottling runs at Blanchard? Which system do you prefer? What improvements can be made? A disadvantage for the formal EOQ/ROP system is that the cost of a stock out may not be fully realized until an item is actually stocked out and they are unable to fill orders. Some safety stock should be held to prevent this from happening. To go along with this, there is also unused storage space, which lowers the actual cost of holding inventory. We will write a custom essay sample on Blanchard Case Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page There are also several disadvantages for the actual system Blanchard uses. While they may have plenty of safety stock, their surplus of inventory is unnecessary. They base their forecast off of the bottler’s guesses, rather than historical data. This can cause major problems (such as high holding costs), and will reduce the efficiency of the business. I prefer the EOQ/ROP system because it is based off an actual calculations, rather than intuition. It seems like it should have a more accurate forecast, and that would be better for businesses. I like to have facts and numbers in front of me, so I can see where the numbers are coming from. I am also more of a conservative person, so I understand how sometimes â€Å"less is more†. To improve Blanchard’s forecasting method, Hank can use historical data, experience employees, and multiple forecasting techniques to come up with the most accurate data. This way they will ensure that they have some safety stock on hand, but not too much. What should Hank Hatch recommend to his boss, Toby Tyler? Hank should recommend to his boss, Toby Tyler, that they should use the information available to them to forecast the data in the most efficient way. By using a cost efficient system, Toby Tyler can combine historical data and recommendations from his experienced workers to come up with an accurate forecast. I also think that Toby should update his historical demand forecasts on a monthly basis to ensure he is using the most recent and relevant data available. If he does this, he can create relevant forecast data that will assist in reducing costs and growing the business to its maximum potential.