SELF-CONTROL - BEYOND COMMITMENT

Howard Rachlin

doi:10.1017/S0140525X00037602

2010-02-04

250

PRE

HaoLi (Howard Rachlin)

DOI：10.1017/S0140525X00037602

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摘要

En 中文

Self-control, so important in the theory and practice of psychology, has usually been understood introspectively. This target article adopts a behavioral view of the self (as an abstract class of behavioral actions) and of self-control (as an abstract behavioral pattern dominating a particular act) according to which the development of self-control is a molar/molecular conflict in the development of behavioral patterns. This subsumes the more typical view of self-control as a now/later conflict in which an act of self-control is a choice of a larger but later reinforcer over a smaller but sooner reinforcer. If at some future time the smaller-sooner reinforcer will be more valuable than the larger-later reinforcer, self-control may be achieved through a commitment to the larger-later reinforcer prior to that point. According to some, there is a progressive internalization of commitment in the development of self-control. This presents theoretical and empirical problems. In two experiments - one with pigeons choosing between smaller-sooner and larger-later reinforcers, the other with adult humans choosing between short-term particular and long-term abstract reinforcers - temporal patterning of choices increased self-control.

Keyword:

BEHAVIORISM

CAUSATION

COGNITION

COMMITMENT

DELAY OF GRATIFICATION

LOCUS OF CONTROL

PRISONERS DILEMMA

REINFORCEMENT

SELF-CONTROL

TEMPORAL PATTERNING