Self-control in children: effects of reinforcer delay and amount of exposition to contingencies

Abstract

Studies in experimental analysis of behavior have verified the effect of the magnitude and delay reinforcer to emission of self-control and impulsive responses. Studies with similar procedures, with children with tipic development, have shown discrepant data. Three variables can be relevant to produce the divergences: 1. the amount of exposition to contingencies; 2. the use of delay progression of reinforcer; and 3. the use of tokens as reinforcer, which varied as amount and physical features. With purpose of assessing the effect of these variables, four studies were conducted with children between 5 and 7 years old. Were manipulated different numbers of sessions, the use of delayed progression of reinforcer in contrast with fixed delay of reinforcement and dimensions of the stimulus (kind of tokens). The data did not show consistent differences between progression of delay reinforcer and fixed delay. A greater number of sessions and use of tokens that varied as amount and physical features can produce higher frequency of self-control responses, than a smaller number of sessions and use of tokens that varied only the amount.Keywords: self-control, concurrent chain schedule, delay progression of reinforcer.