1. PSY402 Theories of Learning
Chapter 6 (Cont.)
Applications of Appetitive Learning

2. Contingency Management
Reinforcement is used to increase appropriate behaviors and decrease inappropriate ones.
Three stages:
Assessment – determine the frequency of behaviors and when they occur
Contracting – specify relationships between reward and behavior
Implementation – evaluate change, modify plan

3. Assessment Report

4. Contracting Deciding the schedule of reinforcement
Specify stages if shaping is involved
Identify inappropriate behaviors that will not be reinforced, if any
Who will administer the reinforcement?
Self-reinforcement produces the same results as external reinforcement.

5. Implementation
Target behaviors decline when reinforcement is discontinued.

6. Does it work?

7. Token Economies Used to reduce disruptive classroom behavior.
Also increases academic performance when disruption is reduced.
Decreases discipline referrals and suspensions at the high school level.
Promotes drug abstinence
High magnitude reward works better
Increases exercise & improves health

8. DRO Reduces Class Disruption

9. Other Applications
Businesses reduce tardiness, decrease theft, increase worker safety, enhance productivity.
Pay bonuses, time off, name in newsletter
Incentives for customers – fast food, airlines
Energy efficiency programs
Carpool lanes
Seatbelt use, recycling programs
Less used in mental institutions

10. Why Not Wider Use?
Not widely used with VA psychiatric patients even though it has demonstrated efficacy.
20 of 152 VA medical centers used them
Reasons:
Under pressure to reduce hospitalization time
Poorly paid staff unwilling to take on new responsibilities
No change since 1992