Selection By Metcontingencies: An Experimental Analog of Negative Reinforcement

Authors

  • André Thiago Saconatto Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo
  • Maria Amalia Pie Abib Andery Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5380/psi.v17i1.26779

Keywords:

metacontigencies, cultural practices, cultural selection, negative reinforcement

Abstract

Academic students were distributed in three participants generations and worked on computers in a trial procedure, in which numbers were presented on each participant's screen. The task was to insert numbers in empty windows. Points were obtained individually if the sums of the inserted numbers
plus the numbers presented were even numbers. Bonus were lost by all when the aggregated product of participant's behavior didn't observe a given criterion. The contingency (bonus) over the aggregated product was suspended in the last two generations. Results indicate that the transmission
of operant behavior and culturo-behavioral transmission occurred. Results also indicate that selection
by metacontingencies of the agregated product has occurred, indicating the selection of interlocking
behavioral contingencies and of an aggregated product.

Author Biographies

André Thiago Saconatto, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo

mestrando do programa de estudos pós-graduados em psicologia experimental: análise do comportamento da PUC-SP

o trabalho é uma parte da dissertação de mestrado do autor sob orientação do segundo autor.

Maria Amalia Pie Abib Andery, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo

professora do programa de estudos pós-graduados em psicologia experimental: análise do comportamento da PUC-SP

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Published

2013-11-07

How to Cite

Saconatto, A. T., & Andery, M. A. P. A. (2013). Selection By Metcontingencies: An Experimental Analog of Negative Reinforcement. Interação Em Psicologia, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.5380/psi.v17i1.26779

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 1 (2013)

Section

Research Reports

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