Current research on operant choice is here related to current research on prisoner's dilemma games and human decision by economists and cognitive psychologists. The bridge among these areas rests on translating internal strategies and other cognitive processes into external contingencies of reinforcement and punishment. A consequence of this translation is that inconsistencies of choice (as expressed by failure of behavior to conform to apparently rational norms) may be viewed in terms of self-control or its lack. Self-control, in turn may be understood in terms of simple ambivalence (choice of a larger delayed reinforcer over a smaller immediate reinforcer) or complex ambivalence (behavior organized in temporally extended patterns rather than temporally narrow acts). Cooperation in prisoner's dilemma situations is seen as a special case of self-control in cases of complex ambivalence. Because much dysfunctional human behavior, including smoking, overeating, alcoholism, drug abuse, and unsafe sexual practice may be understood in terms of failure of self-control, the proposed research is directly relevant to mental and physical health. ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01MH044049-16
Application #
6810234
Study Section
Biobehavioral Regulation, Learning and Ethology Study Section (BRLE)
Program Officer
Kurtzman, Howard S
Project Start
1989-05-01
Project End
2009-05-31
Budget Start
2004-08-01
Budget End
2005-05-31
Support Year
16
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$231,792
Indirect Cost
Name
State University New York Stony Brook
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
804878247
City
Stony Brook
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
11794
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Rachlin, Howard; Jones, Bryan A (2008) Altruism among relatives and non-relatives. Behav Processes 79:120-3
Rachlin, Howard (2007) In what sense are addicts irrational? Drug Alcohol Depend 90 Suppl 1:S92-9
Rachlin, Howard (2007) Free will from the viewpoint of teleological behaviorism. Behav Sci Law 25:235-50
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