DELAY ACTIVITY: EFFECTS UPON CHOICE BETWEEN SELF-CONTROL AND IMPULSIVITY

Abstract

The present study evaluated the effects of responding during a delay, with and without variation requirements, on choice between self-control (SC) and impulsivity (IP). In one condition, four pigeons were exposed to two choice alternatives: a 2-s period of access to food delayed 2-s (IP) vs. a 10-s period of access to food delayed 30-s (SC). In a second condition, sequences of four responses during the long delay were reinforced only when they met a variation criterion. In a third condition, sequences of responses were reinforced independently of the variation criterion. The results showed that (1) the second condition produced higher levels of behavior variation than the third condition, and (2) choice for self-control was lower under the first condition than in the other conditions, which did not differ. It was concluded that responding during the delay favored self-control choice regardless of variation contingencies.Keywords : self-control, behavior variation, delay responding, choice, pigeons