Which principle states that a higher-frequency behavior can reinforce a lower-frequency behavior?

Which principle states that a higher-frequency behavior can reinforce a lower-frequency behavior?

• A. Premack Principle
• B. Law of Effect
• C. Positive Punishment
• D. Extinction

Answer: (A)

The principle says that a more frequent behavior can serve as a reinforcer for a less frequent behavior. When someone has a preferred activity they engage in often, that activity can be used as the consequence to increase the occurrence of a less preferred task. For example, if a child loves video games (high-frequency) but must finish homework (low-frequency) to earn game time, the opportunity to play video games reinforces doing the homework. This use of a high-frequency behavior to strengthen a low-frequency behavior is the Premack principle. The other concepts describe different processes: the Law of Effect relates to how consequences generally increase or decrease behavior without specifying the high/low frequency relationship between two behaviors; Positive Punishment adds something aversive to reduce a behavior; Extinction involves removing reinforcement to decrease a behavior.

The principle says that a more frequent behavior can serve as a reinforcer for a less frequent behavior. When someone has a preferred activity they engage in often, that activity can be used as the consequence to increase the occurrence of a less preferred task. For example, if a child loves video games (high-frequency) but must finish homework (low-frequency) to earn game time, the opportunity to play video games reinforces doing the homework. This use of a high-frequency behavior to strengthen a low-frequency behavior is the Premack principle.

The other concepts describe different processes: the Law of Effect relates to how consequences generally increase or decrease behavior without specifying the high/low frequency relationship between two behaviors; Positive Punishment adds something aversive to reduce a behavior; Extinction involves removing reinforcement to decrease a behavior.