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(4) Decide which of the following concepts are most applicable to each scenario:

ID: 3486493 • Letter: #

Question

(4) Decide which of the following concepts are most applicable to each scenario: differential reinforcement of other behavior, avoidance contingency, punishment by prevention of reinforcer, punishment by loss of reinforcer, or avoidance of loss.

Chad is a 45-year-old man going back to school while working full time. A self-proclaimed procrastinator, his job as a computer programmer can handle his laid back style and ever-changing deadlines. In school, however, he is having difficulty turning his homework in on time. The teacher has told him that success is impossible if he does not turn his papers in on time, yet he fails to do so week after week.

Explanation / Answer

Chad’s case involves punishment by loss of reinforcer, also known as negative punishment. In Chad’s situation, turning in homework on time can be thought of as the behaviour whereas success can be conceptualized as the reward. In case of negative punishment, when the target behaviour is performed, it results in the subtraction of something from that person's environment. Usually, this functions to take away something which the person would prefer to have. In Chad’s case, his behaviour of not submitting his papers is taking away his chance of success, thereby acting as a punishment by loss of reinforcer.