Green, L., & Rachlin, H. (1996).
*Commitment using punishment.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior,
65, 593-601.
Experimental parameters were adjusted so that pigeons' pairwise
choices among three alternatives reflected the following order of
preference: (a) a smaller-sooner reinforcer, (b) a larger-later
reinforcer, and (c) the smaller-sooner reinforcer followed by a
punishment (consisting of an extended blackout period). After
this order of preference was established, the pigeons were
exposed to a two-link, concurrent-chain-like choice procedure.
One terminal link consisted of a choice between the
smaller-sooner and the larger-later reinforcer; the other
terminal link was identical to the first except that the
smaller-sooner reinforcer was followed by blackout punishment.
The pigeons' preference (in their initial-link choice) for the
terminal link with the punished smaller-sooner alternative
increased as the delay between the initial and terminal links
increased. By choosing this terminal link, the pigeons are said
to have "committed" themselves to obtaining the
larger-later reinforcer. However, unlike prior studies of
commitment (e.g., Rachlin & Green, 1972), it was still
possible after making the commitment for the pigeons to choose
the smaller-sooner reinforcer and undergo the punishment. The
pigeons did in fact occasionally make this highly deleterious
choice.
Key words: commitment, choice, self-control, punishment,
concurrent chain, key peck, pigeon