Background: The co-occurrence of multiple interacting medical and psychological disorders is extr... more Background: The co-occurrence of multiple interacting medical and psychological disorders is extremely common. A signifi cant association between allergic disease (ADz-e.g., asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic dermatitis) and depression has been reported. Objective: Path analysis models using cross-sectional data were constructed to evaluate the interrelationships among underlying co-occurring factors known to impact depression in young adults. Method: 885 college students (21.80 ± 3.22 years old) completed an online survey assessing current ADz, sleep quality, pain/discomfort, Body Mass Index, stress, substance use, Internet addiction, physical activity, social support and depression. Results: Our fi ndings suggest that ADz is only one of multiple factors modulating depression. Six factors had signifi cant direct effects (all p < .05) on depression: female gender, sleep quality, pain/ discomfort, stress, Internet addiction, and social support. ADz, Body Mass Index, and substance use had only indirect effects (all p < .05). Social support was associated with better sleep, less depression and less stress. Physical activity had no measurable effect on depression. Conclusions: This study is the fi rst attempt to evaluate the complex interrelations between ADz, depression and co-occurring factors. The complex interactions between variables in the model highlight the need to study these factors conjointly. Future longitudinal studies are needed to determine the temporal order and to validate causal pathways.
How to cite Complete issue More information about this article Journal's homepage in redalyc... more How to cite Complete issue More information about this article Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Scientific Information System
The rate of delay discounting exhibited by individuals has been experimentally altered by manipul... more The rate of delay discounting exhibited by individuals has been experimentally altered by manipulating the way in which time is described, a specific application of the framing effect. Previous research suggests that using specific dates to describe delays tends to lower temporal discounting and change the shape of the discounting function. The main purpose of this study was to assess the influence of framing on discounting in different temporal contexts. Participants chose between hypothetical monetary gains (gains group), or between hypothetical monetary losses (losses group). Each group completed eight discounting tasks over two sessions (two choice tasks [SmallNow/SmallSoon] by two time frames [dates/calendar units] by two magnitudes. The results indicate that Mazur's model adequately described the observed discounting functions in most conditions. However, the decrease in discounting rate when both consequences were delayed only occurred when calendar units (but not dates) ...
Individuals who abuse drugs show higher delay discounting (DD) rate and impulsiveness scores comp... more Individuals who abuse drugs show higher delay discounting (DD) rate and impulsiveness scores compared with controls; however, it is unclear if DD rate covaries with severity of the addiction or if an individual's discounting rate can be changed by effective substance abuse treatment. This study compared methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) patients (n = 30) who had not used illegal drugs for 2 years with drug-using MMT patients (n = 30) and controls (n = 25) in terms of addiction severity, DD rate, and impulsiveness. Methadone patients abstinent from illegal drugs scored significantly lower on a number of addiction severity measures than the drug-using methadone patients. In addition, both groups of MMT patients showed significantly higher rates of DD and impulsiveness than the control group; however, no differences in DD rate or impulsiveness were found between the groups of patients. Results suggest that DD rate and impulsiveness may not covary with indicators of addiction se...
Revista Internacional de Investigación en Adicciones, 2019
Introduction: perceived social support (PSS) is considered an important factor to lessen the nega... more Introduction: perceived social support (PSS) is considered an important factor to lessen the negative effects of stressful events. Likewise, the literature suggests a beneficial impact on the evolution of different diseases. However, little is known about the relationship between PSS and treatment completion in methamphetamine-dependent individuals who receive help in a forced manner. Objective: to evaluate the effect of perceived social support (PSS) on treatment completion in methamphetamine-dependent individuals. Methods: prospective study with a cohort of 67 men on whom PSS, addiction severity, anxiety, and depression were assessed. Results: analysis of variance of prospectively obtained data showed that age, years of drug use, and PSS differed between those who completed the treatment and those who did not. Logistic regression analysis showed that increases in PSS (Odds Ratio, OR = .970, Confidence Interval - CI 95 % = .943 - .999) were predictive of a decrease in the probabili...
Background: The co-occurrence of multiple interacting medical and psychological disorders is extr... more Background: The co-occurrence of multiple interacting medical and psychological disorders is extremely common. A signifi cant association between allergic disease (ADz-e.g., asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic dermatitis) and depression has been reported. Objective: Path analysis models using cross-sectional data were constructed to evaluate the interrelationships among underlying co-occurring factors known to impact depression in young adults. Method: 885 college students (21.80 ± 3.22 years old) completed an online survey assessing current ADz, sleep quality, pain/discomfort, Body Mass Index, stress, substance use, Internet addiction, physical activity, social support and depression. Results: Our fi ndings suggest that ADz is only one of multiple factors modulating depression. Six factors had signifi cant direct effects (all p < .05) on depression: female gender, sleep quality, pain/discomfort, stress, Internet addiction, and social support. ADz, Body Mass Index, and substance use had only indirect effects (all p < .05). Social support was associated with better sleep, less depression and less stress. Physical activity had no measurable effect on depression. Conclusions: This study is the fi rst attempt to evaluate the complex interrelations between ADz, depression and co-occurring factors. The complex interactions between variables in the model highlight the need to study these factors conjointly. Future longitudinal studies are needed to determine the temporal order and to validate causal pathways.
B.F. Skinner developed the operant laboratory using electromechanical technology available in the... more B.F. Skinner developed the operant laboratory using electromechanical technology available in the 1930s. Since then, electronics and digital computers have changed the way in which events are recorded, and experiments programed and controlled. However, the essential features of the operant preparation (a set of instruments, concepts, and procedures seamlessly integrated to reliably render samples of operant behavior) have remained for the most part intact. Years of accumulated knowledge may be necessary to understand the extent of a model’s capacity and limitations. In the case of the operant preparation, a number of important limitations to its original accepted validity have appeared over time, derived from new data and more inclusive theoretical frameworks. The aim of this paper is to examine the significance of the operant assay, and to consider potential extensions to incorporate dimensions of behavior made possible by new and emerging theories and technologies. Elias Robles, S...
The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with p... more The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden.
Background-Low health literacy has been identified as an independent predictor of poor asthma con... more Background-Low health literacy has been identified as an independent predictor of poor asthma control. The Institute of Medicine considers the role of information technology (IT) as critical in providing "safe, effective, patient centered, timely, efficient, and equitable" care with the potential to reduce health disparities in underserved populations. The aim of this study was to design and evaluate an interactive computer-based questionnaire to assess asthma symptoms in children of parents with limited health literacy and/or limited English proficiency. Methods-Volunteer caregivers attending a mobile asthma clinic were randomly assigned to complete the electronic or the paper-and-pencil version of an asthma screening questionnaire (ASQ) in their language of choice (English or Spanish). In the electronic version, a tablet computer was used to present the ASQ questions as video clips and to collect information through the touchscreen. Participants also completed a demographic questionnaire, a brief health literacy questionnaire, and a system usability and satisfaction questionnaire. Reliability of the paper and electronic self-assessments was evaluated by comparing each participant's answers to information they provided during a nurse-guided structured interview (gold standard). Results-A total of 48 parents participated in the study, 26 completed the electronic ASQ and 21 the paper-and-pencil form. Thirty-five percent of the children had well-controlled asthma (n = 17). Most participants were Spanish speaking (67%) Hispanic (n = 44) mothers (n = 43) with a median age of 32 years. More than half had ≤8 years of education (n = 25) and earned <$20,000 per year (n = 27). The median health literacy score was 32 (range 0 36). The correlation between health literacy scores and years of education was significant (p = .47, p < .01). Concordance between the electronic ASQ and the nurse interview was significantly higher than concordance between the paper ASQ and the nurse interview (68% versus 54%; p < .01). All parents who completed the electronic questionnaire reported being satisfied; 96% felt comfortable using it, and found it simple to use. Conclusions-By facilitating the assessment of asthma symptoms at manageable cost, interactive information technology tools may help reduce barriers to access due to inadequate levels of English proficiency and health literacy.
Several variants in the methods used to estimate delay discounting (DD) have been associated with... more Several variants in the methods used to estimate delay discounting (DD) have been associated with within-subject differences in degree of DD. This study compared variants in the order of presentation of reward and delay values during assessment of DD of hypothetical cash. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups. For one group, the immediate reward values were presented in Ascending order and for the other, they were presented in Descending order. In addition, all participants completed a DD task with the reward values presented in a Random order. Degree of DD, calculated as area under the curve (AUC), was similar between the Ascending and Descending procedures, and was significantly higher with the Random procedure. Within-subjects AUC were positively correlated. Reaction times within choice trials changed systematically as a function of order of presentation of the immediate rewards, and distance to the indifference point within each delay value. Reaction times appear to parallel the effort involved in making the individual choices. Some procedural variants in the assessment of DD yield differences in behavior during the assessment task that affect the magnitude of the estimated delay discounting. Thus, the absolute magnitude of DD may not be directly comparable between methods.
Mexican journal of behaviour analysis, Sep 1, 2017
B.F. Skinner developed the operant laboratory using electromechanical technology available in the... more B.F. Skinner developed the operant laboratory using electromechanical technology available in the 1930s. Since then, electronics and digital computers have changed the way in which events are recorded, and experiments programed and controlled. However, the essential features of the operant preparation (a set of instruments, concepts, and procedures seamlessly integrated to reliably render samples of operant behavior) have remained for the most part intact. Years of accumulated knowledge may be necessary to understand the extent of a model's capacity and limitations. In the case of the operant preparation, a number of important limitations to its original accepted validity have appeared over time, derived from new data and more inclusive theoretical frameworks. The aim of this paper is to examine the significance of the operant assay, and to consider potential extensions to incorporate dimensions of behavior made possible by new and emerging theories and technologies.
Revista Mexicana de Investigación en Psicología, 2012
We discuss Santoyo’s (2012) presentation of the origin and development of translational research ... more We discuss Santoyo’s (2012) presentation of the origin and development of translational research which he clearly exemplifies in medical science, behavior analysis and developmental science, and we briefly expand the discussion to include two more areas of application of behavior analysis: behavioral pharmacology, and language development. We suggest that behavioral pharmacology is the area in which behavior analysis has had its most profound impact, mostly by providing the means to incorporate behavior as a central factor in the industrial development of pharmaceuticals, and the toxicological evaluation of chemical compounds. Specifically, we discuss the assessment of drug effects on response acquisition and stable behavior patterns, and the models of drug discrimination and drug self-administration. We describe how cognitive- behavior therapy and contingency management, which are based on principles of operant conditioning, are successfully used to treat diverse problems of drug a...
Impulsivity is associated with addictions, accidents, low scholar achievement, illegal activity, ... more Impulsivity is associated with addictions, accidents, low scholar achievement, illegal activity, overweight, and other problems. A number of theories have been proposed to understand the factors that affect it along with its reciprocal, self-control. Among these, are the Energy Model of Self-regulation, the Behavioral Schema Model, several Behavior Economic accounts, and the Affective Primacy Hypothesis. Despite evolving from very different assumptions and frames of reference, these theories seem to imply that human judgments, choices, and decisions are predictably biased by biological, associative, and contextual factors that give rise to errors and impulsive behavior. Evidence emanating from those theories concerning impulsivity and self-control are discussed, along with evidence regarding potential ways to enhance self-regulation.
In the balloon analogue task, a continuous schedule of positive reinforcement and a random ratio ... more In the balloon analogue task, a continuous schedule of positive reinforcement and a random ratio schedule of punishment for “pump” responses operate simultaneously, along with the opportunity to terminate each trial and avoid an impending punishing stimulus. In this study, the functional properties of game points and point losses were analyzed in three groups of college students (N=92) by varying the density of balloon explosions throughout the 30-balloon session. The within-session changes in density of explosions produced immediate systematic adjustments in pump responses per balloon. The results showed that 1) the number of pumps per balloon is sensitive to the local probability of explosions; 2) the suppression brought on by explosions depends on the temporal distance to the last explosion and the number of consecutive explosions; 3) suppression appears to be non-linear, with stronger effects as the local probability of explosions increases; and, 4) within limits, points without...
B.F. Skinner developed the operant laboratory using electromechanical technology available in the... more B.F. Skinner developed the operant laboratory using electromechanical technology available in the 1930s. Since then, electronics and digital computers have changed the way in which events are recorded, and experiments programed and controlled. However, the essential features of the operant preparation (a set of instruments, concepts, and procedures seamlessly integrated to reliably render samples of operant behavior) have remained for the most part intact. Years of accumulated knowledge may be necessary to understand the extent of a model’s capacity and limitations. In the case of the operant preparation, a number of important limitations to its original accepted validity have appeared over time, derived from new data and more inclusive theoretical frameworks. The aim of this paper is to examine the significance of the operant assay, and to consider potential extensions to incorporate dimensions of behavior made possible by new and emerging theories and technologies.
The value of safe sex may be discounted based on contextual factors associated with an opportunit... more The value of safe sex may be discounted based on contextual factors associated with an opportunity for sex. College students in a within-subjects study selected hypothetical sexual partners from a set of pictures and classified them based on attractiveness and estimated chance of having an sexually transmitted infection (STI). In the Sexual Delay Discounting (SDD) task, participants rated their likelihood (0-100 %) of waiting for some period of time (e.g., 3 h) to have protected sex with their selected partners, when they could have immediate sex without protection. In the Sexual Probability Discounting (SPD) task, participants rated their likelihood of having protected sex if the opportunity was uncertain (e.g., 50 %), when they could have unprotected sex for sure (100 %). All participants included in the final analyses were aware of and had a positive attitude towards protection against STIs as they were likely to have immediate (or certain) protected sex. Results from 432 delay d...
Background: The co-occurrence of multiple interacting medical and psychological disorders is extr... more Background: The co-occurrence of multiple interacting medical and psychological disorders is extremely common. A signifi cant association between allergic disease (ADz-e.g., asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic dermatitis) and depression has been reported. Objective: Path analysis models using cross-sectional data were constructed to evaluate the interrelationships among underlying co-occurring factors known to impact depression in young adults. Method: 885 college students (21.80 ± 3.22 years old) completed an online survey assessing current ADz, sleep quality, pain/discomfort, Body Mass Index, stress, substance use, Internet addiction, physical activity, social support and depression. Results: Our fi ndings suggest that ADz is only one of multiple factors modulating depression. Six factors had signifi cant direct effects (all p < .05) on depression: female gender, sleep quality, pain/ discomfort, stress, Internet addiction, and social support. ADz, Body Mass Index, and substance use had only indirect effects (all p < .05). Social support was associated with better sleep, less depression and less stress. Physical activity had no measurable effect on depression. Conclusions: This study is the fi rst attempt to evaluate the complex interrelations between ADz, depression and co-occurring factors. The complex interactions between variables in the model highlight the need to study these factors conjointly. Future longitudinal studies are needed to determine the temporal order and to validate causal pathways.
How to cite Complete issue More information about this article Journal's homepage in redalyc... more How to cite Complete issue More information about this article Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Scientific Information System
The rate of delay discounting exhibited by individuals has been experimentally altered by manipul... more The rate of delay discounting exhibited by individuals has been experimentally altered by manipulating the way in which time is described, a specific application of the framing effect. Previous research suggests that using specific dates to describe delays tends to lower temporal discounting and change the shape of the discounting function. The main purpose of this study was to assess the influence of framing on discounting in different temporal contexts. Participants chose between hypothetical monetary gains (gains group), or between hypothetical monetary losses (losses group). Each group completed eight discounting tasks over two sessions (two choice tasks [SmallNow/SmallSoon] by two time frames [dates/calendar units] by two magnitudes. The results indicate that Mazur's model adequately described the observed discounting functions in most conditions. However, the decrease in discounting rate when both consequences were delayed only occurred when calendar units (but not dates) ...
Individuals who abuse drugs show higher delay discounting (DD) rate and impulsiveness scores comp... more Individuals who abuse drugs show higher delay discounting (DD) rate and impulsiveness scores compared with controls; however, it is unclear if DD rate covaries with severity of the addiction or if an individual's discounting rate can be changed by effective substance abuse treatment. This study compared methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) patients (n = 30) who had not used illegal drugs for 2 years with drug-using MMT patients (n = 30) and controls (n = 25) in terms of addiction severity, DD rate, and impulsiveness. Methadone patients abstinent from illegal drugs scored significantly lower on a number of addiction severity measures than the drug-using methadone patients. In addition, both groups of MMT patients showed significantly higher rates of DD and impulsiveness than the control group; however, no differences in DD rate or impulsiveness were found between the groups of patients. Results suggest that DD rate and impulsiveness may not covary with indicators of addiction se...
Revista Internacional de Investigación en Adicciones, 2019
Introduction: perceived social support (PSS) is considered an important factor to lessen the nega... more Introduction: perceived social support (PSS) is considered an important factor to lessen the negative effects of stressful events. Likewise, the literature suggests a beneficial impact on the evolution of different diseases. However, little is known about the relationship between PSS and treatment completion in methamphetamine-dependent individuals who receive help in a forced manner. Objective: to evaluate the effect of perceived social support (PSS) on treatment completion in methamphetamine-dependent individuals. Methods: prospective study with a cohort of 67 men on whom PSS, addiction severity, anxiety, and depression were assessed. Results: analysis of variance of prospectively obtained data showed that age, years of drug use, and PSS differed between those who completed the treatment and those who did not. Logistic regression analysis showed that increases in PSS (Odds Ratio, OR = .970, Confidence Interval - CI 95 % = .943 - .999) were predictive of a decrease in the probabili...
Background: The co-occurrence of multiple interacting medical and psychological disorders is extr... more Background: The co-occurrence of multiple interacting medical and psychological disorders is extremely common. A signifi cant association between allergic disease (ADz-e.g., asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic dermatitis) and depression has been reported. Objective: Path analysis models using cross-sectional data were constructed to evaluate the interrelationships among underlying co-occurring factors known to impact depression in young adults. Method: 885 college students (21.80 ± 3.22 years old) completed an online survey assessing current ADz, sleep quality, pain/discomfort, Body Mass Index, stress, substance use, Internet addiction, physical activity, social support and depression. Results: Our fi ndings suggest that ADz is only one of multiple factors modulating depression. Six factors had signifi cant direct effects (all p < .05) on depression: female gender, sleep quality, pain/discomfort, stress, Internet addiction, and social support. ADz, Body Mass Index, and substance use had only indirect effects (all p < .05). Social support was associated with better sleep, less depression and less stress. Physical activity had no measurable effect on depression. Conclusions: This study is the fi rst attempt to evaluate the complex interrelations between ADz, depression and co-occurring factors. The complex interactions between variables in the model highlight the need to study these factors conjointly. Future longitudinal studies are needed to determine the temporal order and to validate causal pathways.
B.F. Skinner developed the operant laboratory using electromechanical technology available in the... more B.F. Skinner developed the operant laboratory using electromechanical technology available in the 1930s. Since then, electronics and digital computers have changed the way in which events are recorded, and experiments programed and controlled. However, the essential features of the operant preparation (a set of instruments, concepts, and procedures seamlessly integrated to reliably render samples of operant behavior) have remained for the most part intact. Years of accumulated knowledge may be necessary to understand the extent of a model’s capacity and limitations. In the case of the operant preparation, a number of important limitations to its original accepted validity have appeared over time, derived from new data and more inclusive theoretical frameworks. The aim of this paper is to examine the significance of the operant assay, and to consider potential extensions to incorporate dimensions of behavior made possible by new and emerging theories and technologies. Elias Robles, S...
The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with p... more The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden.
Background-Low health literacy has been identified as an independent predictor of poor asthma con... more Background-Low health literacy has been identified as an independent predictor of poor asthma control. The Institute of Medicine considers the role of information technology (IT) as critical in providing "safe, effective, patient centered, timely, efficient, and equitable" care with the potential to reduce health disparities in underserved populations. The aim of this study was to design and evaluate an interactive computer-based questionnaire to assess asthma symptoms in children of parents with limited health literacy and/or limited English proficiency. Methods-Volunteer caregivers attending a mobile asthma clinic were randomly assigned to complete the electronic or the paper-and-pencil version of an asthma screening questionnaire (ASQ) in their language of choice (English or Spanish). In the electronic version, a tablet computer was used to present the ASQ questions as video clips and to collect information through the touchscreen. Participants also completed a demographic questionnaire, a brief health literacy questionnaire, and a system usability and satisfaction questionnaire. Reliability of the paper and electronic self-assessments was evaluated by comparing each participant's answers to information they provided during a nurse-guided structured interview (gold standard). Results-A total of 48 parents participated in the study, 26 completed the electronic ASQ and 21 the paper-and-pencil form. Thirty-five percent of the children had well-controlled asthma (n = 17). Most participants were Spanish speaking (67%) Hispanic (n = 44) mothers (n = 43) with a median age of 32 years. More than half had ≤8 years of education (n = 25) and earned <$20,000 per year (n = 27). The median health literacy score was 32 (range 0 36). The correlation between health literacy scores and years of education was significant (p = .47, p < .01). Concordance between the electronic ASQ and the nurse interview was significantly higher than concordance between the paper ASQ and the nurse interview (68% versus 54%; p < .01). All parents who completed the electronic questionnaire reported being satisfied; 96% felt comfortable using it, and found it simple to use. Conclusions-By facilitating the assessment of asthma symptoms at manageable cost, interactive information technology tools may help reduce barriers to access due to inadequate levels of English proficiency and health literacy.
Several variants in the methods used to estimate delay discounting (DD) have been associated with... more Several variants in the methods used to estimate delay discounting (DD) have been associated with within-subject differences in degree of DD. This study compared variants in the order of presentation of reward and delay values during assessment of DD of hypothetical cash. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups. For one group, the immediate reward values were presented in Ascending order and for the other, they were presented in Descending order. In addition, all participants completed a DD task with the reward values presented in a Random order. Degree of DD, calculated as area under the curve (AUC), was similar between the Ascending and Descending procedures, and was significantly higher with the Random procedure. Within-subjects AUC were positively correlated. Reaction times within choice trials changed systematically as a function of order of presentation of the immediate rewards, and distance to the indifference point within each delay value. Reaction times appear to parallel the effort involved in making the individual choices. Some procedural variants in the assessment of DD yield differences in behavior during the assessment task that affect the magnitude of the estimated delay discounting. Thus, the absolute magnitude of DD may not be directly comparable between methods.
Mexican journal of behaviour analysis, Sep 1, 2017
B.F. Skinner developed the operant laboratory using electromechanical technology available in the... more B.F. Skinner developed the operant laboratory using electromechanical technology available in the 1930s. Since then, electronics and digital computers have changed the way in which events are recorded, and experiments programed and controlled. However, the essential features of the operant preparation (a set of instruments, concepts, and procedures seamlessly integrated to reliably render samples of operant behavior) have remained for the most part intact. Years of accumulated knowledge may be necessary to understand the extent of a model's capacity and limitations. In the case of the operant preparation, a number of important limitations to its original accepted validity have appeared over time, derived from new data and more inclusive theoretical frameworks. The aim of this paper is to examine the significance of the operant assay, and to consider potential extensions to incorporate dimensions of behavior made possible by new and emerging theories and technologies.
Revista Mexicana de Investigación en Psicología, 2012
We discuss Santoyo’s (2012) presentation of the origin and development of translational research ... more We discuss Santoyo’s (2012) presentation of the origin and development of translational research which he clearly exemplifies in medical science, behavior analysis and developmental science, and we briefly expand the discussion to include two more areas of application of behavior analysis: behavioral pharmacology, and language development. We suggest that behavioral pharmacology is the area in which behavior analysis has had its most profound impact, mostly by providing the means to incorporate behavior as a central factor in the industrial development of pharmaceuticals, and the toxicological evaluation of chemical compounds. Specifically, we discuss the assessment of drug effects on response acquisition and stable behavior patterns, and the models of drug discrimination and drug self-administration. We describe how cognitive- behavior therapy and contingency management, which are based on principles of operant conditioning, are successfully used to treat diverse problems of drug a...
Impulsivity is associated with addictions, accidents, low scholar achievement, illegal activity, ... more Impulsivity is associated with addictions, accidents, low scholar achievement, illegal activity, overweight, and other problems. A number of theories have been proposed to understand the factors that affect it along with its reciprocal, self-control. Among these, are the Energy Model of Self-regulation, the Behavioral Schema Model, several Behavior Economic accounts, and the Affective Primacy Hypothesis. Despite evolving from very different assumptions and frames of reference, these theories seem to imply that human judgments, choices, and decisions are predictably biased by biological, associative, and contextual factors that give rise to errors and impulsive behavior. Evidence emanating from those theories concerning impulsivity and self-control are discussed, along with evidence regarding potential ways to enhance self-regulation.
In the balloon analogue task, a continuous schedule of positive reinforcement and a random ratio ... more In the balloon analogue task, a continuous schedule of positive reinforcement and a random ratio schedule of punishment for “pump” responses operate simultaneously, along with the opportunity to terminate each trial and avoid an impending punishing stimulus. In this study, the functional properties of game points and point losses were analyzed in three groups of college students (N=92) by varying the density of balloon explosions throughout the 30-balloon session. The within-session changes in density of explosions produced immediate systematic adjustments in pump responses per balloon. The results showed that 1) the number of pumps per balloon is sensitive to the local probability of explosions; 2) the suppression brought on by explosions depends on the temporal distance to the last explosion and the number of consecutive explosions; 3) suppression appears to be non-linear, with stronger effects as the local probability of explosions increases; and, 4) within limits, points without...
B.F. Skinner developed the operant laboratory using electromechanical technology available in the... more B.F. Skinner developed the operant laboratory using electromechanical technology available in the 1930s. Since then, electronics and digital computers have changed the way in which events are recorded, and experiments programed and controlled. However, the essential features of the operant preparation (a set of instruments, concepts, and procedures seamlessly integrated to reliably render samples of operant behavior) have remained for the most part intact. Years of accumulated knowledge may be necessary to understand the extent of a model’s capacity and limitations. In the case of the operant preparation, a number of important limitations to its original accepted validity have appeared over time, derived from new data and more inclusive theoretical frameworks. The aim of this paper is to examine the significance of the operant assay, and to consider potential extensions to incorporate dimensions of behavior made possible by new and emerging theories and technologies.
The value of safe sex may be discounted based on contextual factors associated with an opportunit... more The value of safe sex may be discounted based on contextual factors associated with an opportunity for sex. College students in a within-subjects study selected hypothetical sexual partners from a set of pictures and classified them based on attractiveness and estimated chance of having an sexually transmitted infection (STI). In the Sexual Delay Discounting (SDD) task, participants rated their likelihood (0-100 %) of waiting for some period of time (e.g., 3 h) to have protected sex with their selected partners, when they could have immediate sex without protection. In the Sexual Probability Discounting (SPD) task, participants rated their likelihood of having protected sex if the opportunity was uncertain (e.g., 50 %), when they could have unprotected sex for sure (100 %). All participants included in the final analyses were aware of and had a positive attitude towards protection against STIs as they were likely to have immediate (or certain) protected sex. Results from 432 delay d...
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