G-6 Use instructions and rules

Rule-governed behavior (AKA rule governance)

• Deadlines in rule-giverned behavior help change the behavior. Deadline imposed upon reinforcement contingencies converts them into avoidance contingencies.
• The time before the deadline is either an SD(discriminated avoidance contingency) which tells us reinforcement is available or the time when there's an opportunitiy to respond(S-delta). After the deadline is passed, reinforcement is no longer available.
• The behavior is governed by the rule in rule-governed behavior, we know that under certain conditions, the behavior must occur a certain way. 
• Rule-governed behaviors are learned indirectly without direct contact with the consequence. Whenever you have an indirectly-acting contingency, you have rule-governed behavior - rules control the behavior because the reinforcer is too delayed to reinforce or punish the response. 
• is behavior that is controlled by a set of consequences creating a contingency between the behavior occurring due to a certain set of antecedent conditions. Reinforcers are often delayed until the rule requirements have been met. This is usually presented with a verbal or written decription. If x happen, then y will occur.
• Consequences in rule-governed behavior are also known as reinforcers. For example, mom tells her son, Bobby, that if he takes out the trash this week, he can go to the moives with his friends otherwise he canot-bobby takes out the trash and his mom allows him to go to the movies. His behavior was reinfored due to the contingency of the fule being met. 
• example, a sign states that the coffee maker is broken at work so you don't make coffee. 

 

Contingency-shaped behaviors

• Require a previously directly contacted consequence which often creates a rule to avoid or contact the consequence in the future. 
• is learned because of the reinforcement or punishment that the individual experience as a result of the response. Their future actions are altered based on that past experience of reinforcement and punishment. 
• Example, A sign states that the coffee maker is broken at work. You make coffee anyway and the coffee maker sipts water all over the counter. Next time you see this sign, you don't make coffee. 

 

Compare Rule-giverned behavior VS Contingency-shaped behaviors

• Rule-giverned behavior is more efficient than contingency-shaped behavior as most of these behaviors involve deadlines.