Please go to the following blog page:
http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/abcs.html
Please read sections 5.2 (Rule Governed Behavior)
After reading section 5.2, please respond to the following questions.
What are three things you will remember from what you read in the chapter? Why? What was one thing that you really liked that was in the chapter? Why? What was one thing that you disliked that was in the chapter? Why? What were some ideas that came to mind when you were reading the section?
What are some rules governing your behaviors? What are some rules governing the behavior you are planning to change?
Please fill out the boxes in the readings you may be quizzed on them in class.
Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.
Last Monday you were asked to state a behavior you might change and how you would go about measure that behavior. Please start collecting baseline data on that behavior (recall that baseline is the data collected before the behavioral intervention).
If for some reason you want to change the behavior to some other behavior you can do so.
Let us know if you have any questions,
--Dr. M
“Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.” -- Dalai Lama XIV
What are three things you will remember and why?
1) First of all, the psychological term rule governed behavior which I now know to be behaviors that are kept because of the obligations to keeping order where the antecedent is verbal. And that is also because after reading through the examples know for a fact that I myself have behaviors that are considered to be rule governed behaviors.
2) Also depending on each person other rule governed behaviors can or won't be emitted due to whether or he/she will get punished or whether it is against their religious views. I can familiarize myself with things of this nature therefore I will remember it.
3) Lastly, the ABC's and rule governed behavior are used together more than we think. I will remember know as I use the ABC how rule governed behaviors are involved.
What is one thing you liked and disliked about the section? Why
I really liked that it was short and to the point or it seemed that way. With all the examples and how easily I could relate to the behaviors being used. I definitely liked how the ABC's were again brought out and I implement new things. It really showed how the antecendent, behavior and consequence are involved even with rule governed behavior. And because of it seeming short or it was short, it was fairly easy to understand. Making behavior modification seem even more possible with each assignment makes all the difference.
I really disliked again not having a summary. I really look forward to seeing the key points and having them validate that I got everything I needed from the section. If there is a bullet that I missed then I have a chance before I move to make sure I understand the concept. I think I have been conditioned to just have a summary at the end of a section rather than need it. Personally, I completely read over the chapter and normally catch all the bullets but nonetheless it sometimes is nice to have that feedback at the end of a chapter or section and the validation that I did.
What were some ideas that came to mind when you were reading the section?
I was definitely thinking of some of my own self-directed behaviors and how they would be considered rule governed behaviors. And I was also thinking about behaviors that I really want to omit with the self-directed behavior section previously as well as this one. I keep thinking that I took this class to really change some of my own behaviors that I personally feel I do not want to have anymore. For example, I have a very loud voice but I don't know how I can try to implement ways to keep my tone or voice level down. Also, my bluntness, sometimes I say things without thinking the consequence of how the other person will take it. These were just a couple behaviors that I hope to learn to modify.
What are some rules governing your behaviors? What are some rules governing the behavior you are planning to change?
Just like I stated before; sometimes I say things and not realize what the other person will feel because of it. I may not mean to hurt anyone's feeling but most of the time they say I do because the way I said seemed harsh. To me, honesty should always be first but I know realize that sometimes the way your being honest can use some revisions and that is why I am hoping that reinforcements whether positive or negative will in fact help me to change some of my own rule governed behaviors.
Another rule governed behavior is being emotionally involved with situations that I should not. I need to work on this especially if I want to be a psychologist who can put her own emotions aside when dealing with patients.
Terms: Rule governed behavior, positive, negative, behaviors, psychological, reinforcements, nature, self-directed behavior, psychologist, punish, emitted, behavior modification, patients, consequence, ABC’s, antecedent, behavior and conditioned.
“Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.” -- Dalai Lama XIV
What are three things you will remember and why?
1) First of all, the psychological term rule governed behavior which I now know to be behaviors that are kept because of the obligations to keeping order where the antecedent is verbal. And that is also because after reading through the examples know for a fact that I myself have behaviors that are considered to be rule governed behaviors.
2) Also depending on each person other rule governed behaviors can or won't be emitted due to whether or he/she will get punished or whether it is against their religious views. I can familiarize myself with things of this nature therefore I will remember it.
3) Lastly, the ABC's and rule governed behavior are used together more than we think. I will remember know as I use the ABC how rule governed behaviors are involved.
What is one thing you liked and disliked about the
section? Why
I really liked that it was short and to the point or it seemed that way. With all the examples and how easily I could relate to the behaviors being used. I definitely liked how the ABC's were again brought out and I implement new things. It really showed how the antecendent, behavior and consequence are involved even with rule governed behavior. And because of it seeming short or it was short, it was fairly easy to understand. Making behavior modification seem even more possible with each assignment makes all the difference.
I really disliked again not having a summary. I really look forward to seeing the key points and having them validate that I got everything I needed from the section. If there is a bullet that I missed then I have a chance before I move to make sure I understand the concept. I think I have been conditioned to just have a summary at the end of a section rather than need it. Personally, I completely read over the chapter and normally catch all the bullets but nonetheless it sometimes is nice to have that feedback at the end of a chapter or section and the validation that I did.
What were some ideas that came to mind when you were reading the section?
I was definitely thinking of some of my own self-directed behaviors and how they would be considered rule governed behaviors. And I was also thinking about behaviors that I really want to omit with the self-directed behavior section previously as well as this one. I keep thinking that I took this class to really change some of my own behaviors that I personally feel I do not want to have anymore. For example, I have a very loud voice but I don't know how I can try to implement ways to keep my tone or voice level down. Also, my bluntness, sometimes I say things without thinking the consequence of how the other person will take it. These were just a couple behaviors that I hope to learn to modify.
What are some rules governing your behaviors? What are some rules governing the behavior you are planning to change?
Just like I stated before; sometimes I say things and not realize what the other person will feel because of it. I may not mean to hurt anyone's feeling but most of the time they say I do because the way I said seemed harsh. To me, honesty should always be first but I know realize that sometimes the way your being honest can use some revisions and that is why I am hoping that reinforcements whether positive or negative will in fact help me to change some of my own rule governed behaviors.
Another rule governed behavior is being emotionally involved with situations that I should not. I need to work on this especially if I want to be a psychologist who can put her own emotions aside when dealing with patients.
Terms: Rule governed behavior, patients, nature, reinforcements, positive, negative, behaviors, psychological, nature, self-directed behavior, psychologist, punish, emitted, behavior modification, consequence, ABC’s, antecedent, behavior, modify and conditioned.
Section 5.2
Three things I will remember:
1.Deadlines – deadlines can function as rules governing behavior; they are antecedents and discriminative stimuli as well; they remind us of consequences that might occur when behaviors are time sensitive. This is something I will remember because it is something that I deal with as a student so frequently. In high school I have always had deadlines, and it is even more of a crucial aspect of my life as a college student
2.Rule Governed Behaviors – Behaviors that result from establishing norms, morals, or rules; these are things that we don’t forget and often doesn’t take second thought. A good example is that when a light turns red we stop our cars; it is done without a lot of thought, almost automatically
3.I will also remember the section about efficiency experts because I thought it was very interesting: a great example they used was that of filing paperwork. If you come across paper work that is important, then file it. If it is not important, don’t file it. Shred it but don’t second-guess yourself. I will remember this because it is often something that I do (second-guess small decisions)
One thing that I really liked about this chapter was reading about rule-governed behaviors, and how they are so important in our day-to-day lives. The really good example that was used was that of making a pizza, a simple task when we are hungry. If we want to have a good, fresh pizza that is not burnt, we take the pizza out on time. The behavior, taking the pizza out, results in the consequence of having fresh pizza, and the antecedent is making sure to take it out on time, perhaps by having a timer ready. Other things, like a red light or stop sign, are stimuli that warn us or indicate that we need to emit these behaviors, such as stopping. Some of these rule-governed behaviors, such as stop signs, come from the law, but other behaviors can come from all kinds of sources. For example, I was raised Catholic so for years I would wake up on Sunday and know that it was time to go to church; it was a near automatic response.
There wasn’t really anything in this section that I disliked. It seems like each section is getting easier to understand due to my growing experience in the class with behavior modification. However, I feel like this section was the smoothest thus far and easiest to understand. It really clicked with me when reading and I was able to relate it to my own life with ease.
An idea that I thought of when reading this was sparked by one of the boxes, and that is the number of rule governed behaviors that I would not follow if they weren’t laws. It’s kind of scary to think about how dangerous the world could be if we did not have these rule-governed behaviors. All of the other rule-governed behaviors that we have are what get us through the day and keep us on a routine. It also made me think of deadlines, and how important those are as well, due to the fact that college students pretty much live off of deadlines and need them to stay organized.
Some of the rules that govern my behaviors, besides all of the rules of society, are a lot of almost “unspoken rules”. They are almost more like beliefs for me, like not being loud in quiet places, don’t be rude to the elderly, just little things like that, almost rules that are intrinsic to me and that will always stick with me. Some rules governing the behavior I’m planning to change have to do with use of time. For example, if I spend more time reading and less time watching TV, it will result in more productivity and ultimately better grades.
Terms Used – Deadlines, Rule Governed Behaviors, Efficiency Experts, Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence, Stimuli, Emit
Three things I will remember about section 5.2 include what rule governed behaviors are, how we can use them to become more efficient, and deadlines. Rule governed behaviors according to our text are behaviors which are maintained via the obligation of maintaining order where the antecedent is verbal. I will remember this by a religious example of not using the lord’s name in vain. It is a set rule in the Ten Commandments and many people do not emit the behavior based on the social rule. The next thing I will remember is using rule governed behaviors to increase our efficiency. I will remember this by the example of only checking e-mail twice a day instead of eight times. By remembering and setting this rule governed behavior people will maintain the behavior thus becoming more efficient. Finally I will remember deadlines as a form of rule governed behaviors. Dead liens are both antecedents and discriminative stimuli and help us determine when certain behaviors must be emitted at certain times and remind us of the consequences when they are or are not emitted. An example is a paper for school. Generally teachers set a deadline for when the students must have a paper written by. This serves as an antecedent to emit the paper writing behavior before that time. Consequences to following the deadline is receiving points, not following it you will not receive less or no points.
One thing I enjoyed about this chapter was its clarity and many examples. I understood the material well and the examples were very helpful toward my understanding and applying to real life. One thing I disliked about the section was that it did not contain very many new terms. It was nice that the section was fairly short however I would have liked to learn more terms for my general knowledge and to use in the paragraph above.
Some rules governing my behaviors include laws, social norms, morals, and ethical considerations. A few examples of my rule governing behaviors include never eating fast food, always donating blood at a blood drive (if I can), and if I have change I must give at least something to every salvation army bell ringer I walk by. I like to stay healthy and fit therefore I make it an automatic rule that fast food joints are never an option for snacks or meals. I know that the American Red Cross is always looking for blood donors and a good amount of people have a hard time donating. Giving blood does not bother me therefore I donate when I can to help others who need it. Finally I don’t usually do a lot for charity therefore I believe I should at least give a little money when I can to help someone else.
Some rules governing the behavior I plan to change include never getting below a C+ in classes, never sitting in the very front, and taking no less than 15 credits a semester. I like to receive good grades therefore if I am receiving a bad grade in a course I try to study more or I will seek help from a professor or a tutor. If none of my behaviors work I would drop the course as a desperate last resort. I hate sitting in the very front of classrooms because I don’t like to be called on unless I raise my hand. I do participate in classrooms generally however I do not like when teachers call me out because I feel pressured, get nervous, and sometimes I don’t know the answer because I was day dreaming. Finally I want to graduate on time or even possible a little early. If I take less than 15 credits a semester I feel like a bum and/or behind everyone else. The only time I would consider taking less is if I didn’t need 15 credits (my senior year) or if I was too involved in something else equally important such as applying for graduate schools or work. I think in order to achieve my target behavior of being on the dean’s list I need to up my rule governed behavior of never getting below a C+ to never getting below a B. By increasing the grade I may work harder therefore achieve better grades and make the dean’s list. Perhaps I could also try to sit in the front row in the classes I struggle with. By sitting in the front row I may pay better attention. Finally I will keep my 15 credit rule in order to stay on track to graduate at my desired date.
Terms: emit, antecedents, discriminative stimuli, rule governed behaviors, deadlines, efficiency, consequence, target behavior
Section 5.2
1) I will remember Rule Governed Behavior because it is something new to me but in the chapter makes a lot of sense and is very aplicable to my life which makes everything easy to remember. While reading this section it made me think of the things in my life that this rule applies to. Such things like not doing drugs or stealing.
2) I will remember Source of Rules because reading about Rule Governed Behavior brought up the question in my mind who created these rules. It goes along so close to rule governed behavior that it is almost imposssible to remember one with out the other. If you think of rule governed behavior as the behavior then source of rules has to be the antecedent and this is going to help me to remember both of these.
3)I will remember the ABC's of rule governed behavior because I know the ABC's very well and all you have to do is apply that to rule governed behavior as an antecedent and it is easy to remember.
Something i really liked about this section was it was reading about rule governed behavior because it brought to light the use of behavior modification to a society rather than an individual. These rules, as far as we know, keep society in check and make it the best it can be. It would be interesting to see what society would be like without some of the rules of governed behavior in place now or with different ones in place.There was nothing in this section I did not like. I felt it read well and the information was presented in a manner that was easy to understand. Some of the ideas I had while reading this was what were some of my behaviors that are controlled by rule governed behavior. Some I thought of were not failing out of school, paying taxes, and being polite to people.
Some rules governing my behavior are not doing illegal activities. This behavior comes from the rule made by government. Another one is going to workout everyday. This behavior could come from rules made by either society saying people need to be fit and not liking fat people or one I made by myself to stay fit. Another rule by behaivor is run by is my fraternity's rule saying I am not allowed to get below a 2.9 GPA or else I am on grade contract and if it happens enought kicked out of the chapter. This causes me to emit a behavior of keeping good grades. The last one helps govern my behavior I plan to change because it will have be work on school work more and do better in class.
Terms:rule governed behavior,behavior,emit,source of rules,ABC's antecedent,behavior modification
1. I will remember that the ABC’s are still important to think about during each section. It is the skeleton of any behavior modification. In this chapter we can see that behaviors can be rule governed such as a deadline and broken down into the ABC’s. I’ve been dealing with a lot of deadlines this semester while applying for graduate school. I need to have all materials submitted by a specific date. My procrastination skills tend to get the best of me and as a consequence I spend more money express shipping my materials so they will get there on time.
2. Getting organized to increase efficiency. I not only will remember this, but also need to use it in my everyday life. I’m not a really disorganized person but once I get busy or senioritis kicks in I tend to leave things till the last minute. The importance being organized is in accomplishing a goal is great. Disorganization could lead to the demise of a goal.
3. Rule governed behavior will be something I will remember. This is really easy to relate to, because sometimes even without really thinking about it, we’re doing these behaviors. There are so many people that set out rules, that we do it frequently throughout the day. For example going to class. Professor’s set attendance policy’s in class to make students attend. If they don’t, they lose points. Therefore as a student, I want to get those points so I attend class, most of the time.
I found the different ways rules could govern a behavior, which is a behavior that is maintained because of obligation of maintaining order where the antecedent is verbal. This could come from norms, morals, society, etc. This is explicitly stating why organisms do or don’t what they do. These different situations will determine when a behavior will be reinforced or punished. A specific example of why an individual would or wouldn’t emit a behavior could be depending on a sense of obligation. This could be religious or just your conscious telling you to do it. Many religious have specific principles to be followed. Personally I know the example of not eating meat on Friday during the season of lent. They do this to producing a desirable consequence in their religion.
Although I always enjoy a section that is short and sweet, I felt like there was something missing. There was no summary in this chapter, which seemed strange. It gave me the feeling that there should be more, but wasn’t. Everything else made perfect sense to me and really built on what we have been talking about all semester and in past classes that I’ve had. I liked having the reminder of how the ABC’s should still be discussed even if it is not directly discussed in the chapter.
I found myself thinking of all the behaviors that I do, just because I’m told to do. One example that I thought of is I have to attend certain events for my sorority, otherwise I get fined. Specific events I get charged more for so I’m more likely to attend those, and it’s pretty unlikely that I’ll attend something that isn’t mandatory. The fines have proven to be so aversive, that I have grown to resent it all together. I enjoy hanging out the window when it’s nice outside, but since I was pulled over and given a written warning it has changed my behavior. I consciously remind myself not to. I would like to be more intune with a specific rule governing behavior, getting things done on time. The more efficient I am at this, the less stressed I am in my life and the less money I end up spending.
Terms: rule governing behavior, aversive, behavior, ABC’s, govern, maintained, antecedent, punished, reinforced, emit, getting organized, increase efficiency, behavior modification
Section 5.2
1. The most important thing that I believe I took away from reading this section is an understanding that rules regulate our behavior because they act as antecedents. I remember when I first started reading the book for this class. There were boxes to fill in where the antecedent was already provided, and others where you came up with the antecedent. In this exercise, the antecedent was fairly obvious if not provided, and the behavior was obvious if the antecedent was provided. The exercise showed that antecedents set the occasion for an organism to emit the target behavior. It would be fair to say that rules elicit a certain behavior.
2. I will remember that the behavioral term for this is “rule governed behavior.” It fits pretty perfectly with what I said for my first point. The rule acts as an antecedent, and sets the occasion for the behavior to occur. The rule literally governs the behavior. I love it when the terms are simple and easy to understand!
3. I will also remember the incest example, mostly because it was a little unsettling to be the first thing I read in the section! I have never thought about WHY most of us refuse to emit that behavior. It is something that we have been raised to know is wrong. It is essentially a rule governed behavior.
4. Like I said before, I really liked that this section covered rule governed behavior. It was a simple topic and the definition fits the term exquisitely. It was especially easy to understand with the incest example that I talked about above. I also liked that it was related back to signs (which may or may not provide the consequences for breaking the rule). I liked the stop sign example, which didn’t provide the various possible consequences for behaving in a way that would break the rule of stopping at a stop sign (probably because there are far too many outcomes to list on a small sign!). I also liked the piano example. There was a sign that said not to move the piano, or the leg would fall off! I’m sure everyone followed this rule governed behavior!
5. At first, I didn’t like reading about deadlines acting as rules governing behavior. However, I think that I was just overthinking it. Deadlines didn’t make sense in relation to rules in my head. I think it’s actually just really simple. When I have a deadline for a school paper, I emit the paper writing behavior prior to that deadline. So, essentially, the deadline was a rule that elicited my paper writing behavior.
6. When reading this section, especially the stop sign section, I was reminded of discriminative stimuli. So I went back to my notes and found that a discriminative stimulus sets the occasion for an operant response to occur. It basically tells you what to do. I remember from the reading of that section that a stop sign is a discriminative stimulus. It tells you what to do (STOP).
TERMS:
Set the occasion, elicit, emit, antecedent, behavior, rule governed behavior, consequence, operant response, discriminative stimulus, target behavior
Section 5.2
1)I will remember rule governed behavior- which results from established norms, morals, or ethical standards.For example- the 10 commandments, don’t murder, steal..etc. Another thing I will remember is that the sources of rules vary and that sometimes we don’t follow rules because we think or know we can get away with it.
2)Sometimes we follow rules blindly because others( other people, the media, family, etc…) tell us to do so, and sometimes we follow rules because we learn from experiencing them ourselves. Ex: Slowing down in a certain area to avoid getting a ticket, because you once got one there.
3) Deadlines also function as rules governing behavior. This is because the ticket (for example) is time sensitive, and so if you wait too long you will be punished. This encourages people to pay before the due date.
The most important thing from this chapter is that rules are important to our behavior as they act as antecedents. Rules influence whether or not we make a choice and the consistency of that choice.
One thing I liked about this chapter was that the fill in boxes seemed to fit in appropriately and helped me understand the material better. I liked how this section helped me understand the roles of rules in society- both unspoken and spoken. The one thing I disliked was that there wasn’t a summary at the very end of the chapter. I always find the summary helpful so I can quick review over what I read and learned. Some rules governing my behaviors would probably be what I think is morally right and wrong according to my religion as well as the laws in society. A lot of the time I feel like we very unaware of how many rules we follow in our everyday lives- for example what side of the road to drive on, how to park your car, how we are expected to act in certain situations for example- a funeral vs. a football game, also what is viewed acceptable and unacceptable in today’s society. All these rules govern influence our everyday lives and the society we live in.
Terminology: governed behavior, punisher, antecedents, behaviors
Section 5.2
Three things that I will remember:
One of the first things that I will remember is the definition of a rule governed behavior. A rule governed behavior is a behavior that is maintained via the obligation of maintaining order where the antecedent is verbal. Rule governed behavior can result from morals, norms, and ethical standards. For example the text gives a quote from Dr. Maclin's son Gage. Gage said when he was 7 that people in the same family can't have babies. he is totally correct in stating this. This shows that even a seven year old knows that there are certain things that you just don't do. A behavior like this is not something that you need to be punished or reinforced for before deciding if you are going to engage in the behavior. You just don't do it. I feel like it is somewhat of an "unwritten rule." There doesn't need to be someone that enforces a rule against this behavior. We just know as a society that you just plain don't do something like this.
The second thing that I will remember most from this section is the sources of rules. Sources of rules can be government, society, culture, holidays, family traditions, peers, attorneys, and even ourselves. I will remember this because sometimes you don't realize just how many different sources of rules there are. You may not think that your peer group for example has rules, but infact they kind of do. For example there are certain ways of acting that you just don't engae in with certain groups of people. If you're in a classroom with other students you don't just talk durring a lecture. You also don't just blurt out answers or interrupt your professor. There is not written rule about this really, but it is something that most students follow. Breaking this "rule" can cause you to be looked at funny by other students or in worse cases your professor could even kick you out of class, which would not only cause you to miss an important lecture, but it would also be extremely embarassing.
The third thing that I will remember is that many of our day to day behaviors are rule governed. The text gives the example of an antecedent for making a pizza. A = take the pizza out of the oven before it burns, B = taking out the pizza, C = eating a good pizza. Something as simple as this is a rule governed behavior. We all know that if we don't take the pizza out of the oven before it burns we will not be able to enjoy it, unless you like burnt, crispy pizza I guess... Anyways, another everyday behavior that is rule governed would be reading your text book before lecture. A = read the book before class, B = read the book, C = understand the lecture.
Something that I liked about this chapter is that it gave easy to understand examples. I think that the chapter was clear and easy to understand. The chapter was also not a repeat of information from other sections. I like being able to read something that I have not learned about in a previous section or class. I also liked the boxes to fill in. I always do these in my head as I read the chapter. I like it because it forces me to stop and think about what exactly I am reading.
Something I disliked was that there wasn't a summary. It's not really a big deal, but the summary helps me write my blog usually. I hope that other sections aren't like this.
Terms: rule governed behavior, ABC's, rules.
The first thing I will remember from this section is that how antecedents effect behavior. We have talked a lot about it in other sections but not as the main point. This is interesting because we can manipulate our environment in order to get us to emit certain behaviors. It makes me realize all of the antecedents that the government or other authorities put in place in order to protect us. I think sometimes they go a little too far in this regard. Antecedents play a very strong role in getting us to elicit certain behaviors. I think that signs are the best example of antecedents and discriminative stimuli try and control or behavior. If a sign tells you not to do something, there is usually a pretty good reason why.
The next thing I want to try and remember has to do with rule governed behavior. I think that it is very interesting that this type of learning/behavior requires no direct conditioning. You used the example of the seven year old knowing not to have sexual relations with family. Our society makes this things so taboo because it does a great job governing behavior. We do not need to directly learn it because it is so engrained in our society. These social norms do a great job in getting us to be civilized and live in a society together. Not many people want to emit a behavior that will effect or disturb the society that they live in.
The next thing I will take from this section is that people follow these norms because there are consequences to not following them. Laws in our society get us to act a certain way because we don't always realize how dangerous some behaviors are. We have drunk driving laws because drunk people feel they are fine drivers. Speeding and running red lights can be very dangerous, but sometimes we only see it as a law and not a protective measure. These laws do a great time in making our society safe, even if we do not understand all of them. It is impossible for us to know every instance where a behavior led to a bad outcome.
I really liked how this section explained norms and laws. In a way, it got me to understand why certain laws are in place. It also got me thinking about why people follow social norms. Basically, they want to belong to the society. For that reason, they choose not to engage in behaviors that will shun them from their society or community. The need to belong shows up a lot in why we choose to follow these norms and laws.
The only thing I did not like about this section is that it got me thinking about how much control or government has over our behavior. They are the end all say all when it comes to making rules and laws. They may think that they are doing the right thing in protecting us from ourselves but that is not always the case. It basically got me thinking that all these law and rule makers should take a couple psychology classes, such as this one, so that they can responsibly and ethically maintain or try to control our behaviors. This sounds harsh but rules like the helmet rule for motorcyclists have slowed down the process of survival of the fittest. My belief is that if they want to not wear a helmet, that is their choice, and not a very smart one. I think the government needs to be careful with laws that protect us from ourselves.
A lot of laws govern my behavior, especially in college. Drinking and driving and other alcohol related offenses force me to control myself when I drink so that I do not effect others in a negative way. When we start to effect innocent people with our actions, I think that is when government needs to intervene. My behavior is to reduce my soda consumption because I know that it is unhealthy and does nothing for the body. There are no rules on pop drinking, but we are made aware of the negative effects of it.
terms: ellicit, emit, rule governed behavior, consequences, conditioning, antecedents, behavior, discriminative stimuli, environment
Section 5.2-
1. Socialization rules the behaviors that we emit- You won’t see me walk up to someone in the middle of class and punch them in the face. Why you ask? Because that is assault and that is illegal. Who made it illegal--the society that we live in based off of morals constructed by the United States of America. These morals not only control what we do in public in a place full of witnesses, but in our own private homes/apartments—some people adhere to these morals much better then others. Those that we do follow, as they are law, are somewhat based off of a religious background for which, if you believe, are suppose to follow until death. However, as we know in behaviorism, the shear knowledge that one is not suppose to do something can elicit the individual to act upon a rebellious impulse to, lets say, pick a tulip in Pella, Iowa—this is illegal as the town is known for their tulips (i.e. the Tulip Festival).
2. Rules can help with efficiency- Self-help books are the first things that popped up in my mind when I read this statement. While not all rules can be applicable to a situation, they can have good ideas for reinforcements or punishments when a rule of similar nature is not adhered too. Though one would not want to make the punishment to aversive for fear of not following a plan of behavior modification.
3. Rules can be passed out- Sort of like the rules to make it through college class; little tidbits of information that I have acquired during my time will most definitely be given to my sister who will shortly be joining the college community.
I liked how this section was definitely relatable to the condition of a college student. Rules that adhere us are deadlines. We all have them just some people are better at following them then others and some are just better at ‘working under pressure’ to reach a deadline on time—AKA procrastination a disease striking college students everywhere. I also enjoyed how the examples really facilitated the critical thinking in analyzing our own lives to find how certain areas of government, religion, etc., control different areas of our lives. One thing that I didn’t like was how there wasn’t much talk about how rules can be handed down amongst people. There are multiple different antecedents and forms of communication that can facilitate a passing down of rules—each one could also elicit a different response from the individual receiving the information. Some things that came to mind were how ideals have shifted from what was not deemed as acceptable to what now is. A big thing that I thought of was interracial marriage—it used to be frowned upon and actually illegal however due to the changing and advancing attitudes and ideals of the public, that law prohibiting it was overturned. Another is that to have a good job you have to have a degree. When my grandparents were my age, having a degree was a luxury and not required as long as you could demonstrate a basic learning and adaptive ability.
That being said a major reason that I am in college to get a degree, other then a love for what I am studying, is so that I can get a good job that can lead to a supported, comfortable lifestyle. Also since the 1990’s a get fit ideal has been booming and caused how we feed and take of ourselves to change—even effecting what is allowable to be passed as a school lunch. With that get fit attitude, I have become aware that my lifestyle, while I eat right, is not all that healthy, I smoke on occasion and do not work out as much as I should and I would like to change those. I started to quit smoking in January cold turkey and have only had three since then and it has been over a month since my last one. Now I need to get back in the shape that I was in high school and to do that I have to actually use my gym membership that I pay for every month.
Terms: Adhere, Rules, Deadlines, Antecedents, Elicit, Response, Emit, Behaviorism, Reinforcement, Punishment, Aversive, and Behavior Modification.
SECTION 5.2
1. What are three things you will remember from what you read in the chapter? Why?
Rules emerge from contingency – rule governed behavior is not always in place before we begin to adhere to it. Some rules we create in reaction to our environment. The example in the notes is speeding around the same corner to work each day. If a cop starts to sit on that corner from a day to day basis, he will elicit rule-governed behavior from the speeding individual - to slow down around this corner each time one takes that route. Adhering to this rule elicits a desired consequence-no speeding ticket!
Deadlines – deadlines greatly influence rule-governed behavior because they act as antecedents. A deadline, such as turning in a piece of work before it becomes overdue elicits the behavior of writing the paper and handing it in. The deadline for turning in a paper is now a rule-governed behavior. Turn the paper in or turn it in overdue and fail.
Efficiency – rule governed behavior increases efficiency if the consequence is desirable. The notes use the example of checking ones emails multiple times a day. If we do so the desired outcome is increased efficiency in communicating with professors and students-it is a desired consequence. As such, rule governed behavior is dependent upon the consequence. A rule formulated to change ones behavior is created to produce a desired consequence.
2. What was one thing that you really liked that was in the chapter? Why?
Antecedents vs. consequences – I liked to read about the importance of recognizing the relationship between an antecedent and consequence in most situations, including rule-governed behavior. The rule acts as the antecedent and the consequences are adhering to the rules. Understanding this relationship allows us to understand why we live in a society of laws and rules. For the most part the consequences of adhering to rules are for personal benefit, such as safety. This also illustrates the control that exists over every one of us who is part of society. We gave up freedoms for rules for the overbearing consequence of safety.
3. What was one thing that you disliked that was in the chapter? Why?
There was nothing I dislike about this chapter, it was short and sweet!
4. What were some ideas that came to mind when you were reading the section?
The main idea that came to my mind was the importance of rule-governed behavior in our society. A long time ago, people gave up their freedom to a government in return for safety. To create that safety the government has create many rule-governed behaviors to control people to produce the desired consequence of safety that all people expect. Society is governed by a series of rules. Behavior is governed by a series of rules. Thus, society exists on a multitude of rule-governed behaviors!
5. What are some rules governing your behaviors?
Follow the speed limit – this is a rule governing behavior because the absence of the rule would leaving me driving at whatever speed I like on the road. Obviously this is rule governed for a reason, to keep myself and others safe from the dangers of motor vehicles (and bad drivers!)
Chew with your mouth shut – I was taught as a child that manners are important within the social arena, and one such manner is chewing food with your mouth shut. I was taught it is rude to talk or chew with an open mouth thus I do not chew with my mouth open even though I could if I wanted to.
6. What are some rules governing the behavior you are planning to change?
There are no rules governing the behavior I look to change, which is increasing the frequency I write in a diary to organize my thoughts and ideas. This is a situation of free-will. The consequence is for personal use.
TERMS: contingency, rule-governed behavior, environment, elicit, consequence, behavior, deadlines, antecedents, desirable, efficiency, dependent,
Section 5.2
These are the things I will remember because they are main points from the chapter and I can relate to them:
1. “Behavior that maintains order where the antecedent is verbal. Rule governed behavior can result from established norms, morals, or ethical standards or from rules to which an organism has adhered throughout its history.” That was the chapters’ summary explanation of Rule governed behavior. What I took away from that is that Rule governed behavior is how people act based on what people verbally said or have always done but that it is not necessarily stated in writing as a law for guiding behavior.
2. Depending on what the rules as antecedents are and the consequences to either following the rules or not behaviors may be altered. For example if there are no security cameras in a market and you are hungry you might take an apple because after all you are starving and need sustenance, you are very confident that nobody will see, and if they do you are unlikely to get in too much trouble for one .30 cent apple. Another example would be that countries have different driving laws such as which side of the road you drive on, or at what age you can drink and so on. So because rules and customs differ from place to place its important to know what those rules are and how they change behavior.
3. There was a discussion about signs. That a sign that spells out the consequence is good because it tells you why! The section example was: Don’t move the Piano, the leg will fall off. Stop signs say STOP but they do not say why. Stop, or a ticket is likely. STOP, or you might kill someone. Those seem more likely to change behavior because they spell out the consequence.
I was thinking about the signs when the reading posed these questions “What rules do you follow because they are the law and wouldn’t otherwise?” and “What rules do you only follow sometimes?” To answer the first one in complete honesty there are certain illegal substances I don’t partake in. This is not because I care about the consequence of the drugs themselves, as some but not all drugs have little to no aversive side effects or long term impairment, but because of the consequence of legal action such as the removal of financial aid, revoking of driving privileges, large fines, and jail time. As you can see it is the punishment that keeps me from emitting unlawful behaviors IF the punishment is intense enough. The potential consequence elicits my behavior. As for rules that I sometimes follow, one of those is campus parking. When I know I won’t get a ticket or I have enough money that I just don’t care about a ticket, I may park in an area that I am not permitted.
Since I am planning on reducing my time spent on video games I was thinking on what rules govern the behavior I am planning to change. Initially I thought this didn’t pertain well to my situation but that isn’t entirely true. If you don’t pay your bills you will not have electricity, or internet, or perhaps even shelter. Those are rules “pay bills on time” that govern my video game behavior. Another rule is you must pass enough classes or have a high enough GPA not to get kicked out of school. Because I can’t afford to get kicked out of school I maintain a very reasonable GPA in order to not only stay in school, but also maintain my ability to play video games.
Terms: behavior, antecedent, consequence, rule governed behavior, aversive, elicit, emit, punish
Section 5.2
Three things I will remember from this section are:
1. Rules can be either learned or handed down from a source where they were learned. An example of this would be if someone shopped at a particular store and learned that the goods obtained there were of a lesser quality than they desired. They learned the rule that they should not shop there. If they were to tell this to their friends, they would be governed by a handed down rule.
2. A simple deadline acts as a rule governing a behavior. A deadline states that if the behavior is completed in time, they will not be punished. Whereas if they wait until after the deadline they meet an aversive consequence.
3. Signs can also govern behavior, however they may not state the consequence. Signs can be semi-ambiguous in that respect, but generally the target behavior is spelled out fairly clearly. STOP. DO NOT OPEN. NO ENTRANCE. etc. etc.
One thing I liked from this section was we didn't focus on weather or not the rules were good or bad or weather or not we agreed with them. You said some rules are only followed because they are set by the government and we do not want to deal with the aversive consequences. I liked the brief acknowledgement that a rule is a rule and it is there and for the sake of the class that's all we need to know.
One thing I disliked was the lack of a summary. I don't generally just skim through the sections or anything, but I like summaries because they reemphasize the key points.
While reading this section I was thinking about the rules that govern my behavior. I kept thinking about how laws govern what I can and cannot do. I thought about how norms of society govern what I can and cannot do. I thought about how I can theoretically do whatever I want to do, provided I deal with the consequences of my behaviors. All of my daily actions are governed by rules that I don't even think of. I wake up in the morning and shower, because I learned if I don't then I will smell bad and maybe get weird looks. Then I put pants on because the law and society says I shouldn't leave the house without them. I go to class because as a rule there are aversive consequences for my not being there. All of my behavior is governed by rules.
For the behavior modification project we are working on, the rules I set up to govern my behavior for waking up on time are that I must wake up before the Rialto stops serving breakfast, or I don't get breakfast. Luckily, this is an easy behavior and I don't need many rules. Aside from the ones constructed by society this is essentially the only rule in place.
Terms: learned rule, handed down rule, rule governing behavior, aversive, punishment, target behavior
5.2 Rule governed Behavior
Rule governed behavior operates off of the basis of verbal and non-verbal mediation in that a rule serves as a contingency that forms a relationship between an occasion, the behavior that is emitted and the consequences afterward.
Sources of rules will vary between cultures, religions, states, and countries. Depending on the rules set forth by different governments, churches or our family members, we adhere to them based on the antecedents and consequences that we may consciously or unconsciously understand how they will alter our behaviors. Rules also emerge from the words of others based on their experiences. We often emit a behavior based on the notion that that behavior has worked for someone else and hope that the consequence is one that we desire. If the outcome is desirable then we are likely to emit the behavior again which strengthens the rule. Contingencies are also sources of rules. Based on observations in a particular environment that routinely serve as antecedents for a particular behavior, we will eventually emit behaviors associated with that environment even if the consequence has changed; rules are derived from our experiences. While there are many situations in which rule governed behavior comes into play but the important thing to realize about rule governed behavior is that rules act as antecedents.
Rules that govern my behavior are morals. The source of my morals came from my parents and the environment that surrounds me. I adhere to morals because they are, in my opinion, what leads to a happy life. The antecedents to living a moral life, due to different situational factors, lead to different behaviors being emitted; for now I will just use honesty as an example as the target behavior. The antecedent to honesty could be that I found a 100 dollar bill fall out of a woman’s purse while at the grocery checkout. The behavior is honesty and the consequence would then be that I felt good about what I did rather than have the lady get home to realize that she had lost a hundred dollars.
Rules that are governing the behavior that I am trying to change (eating healthier) are consuming enough calories to sustain moderately average diet. This rule of calorie intake is based off of other’s experiences in weight loss. It is said that women eating a 1600 calorie a day are eating enough food to sustain a healthy balance between weight and a moderate activity level. I am taking other people’s word for it and trying the behavior. If I reach my desired outcome of maintaining a healthy weight, this rule of eating six small meals a day with 266 calories per each meal will be strengthened.
Terms: behavior, rule governing behavior, emit, antecedent, consequence, contingency, environment, target behavior, desirable.
After reading section 5.2, the three things I will remember (listed below) all have to do with how rules govern our specific behaviors. The reason these thing will stick with me the most is for the fact I found them all to be very interesting. It is weird to think about different aspects of our everyday lives and how they govern our behaviors without us paying any attention to it.
1. Rule Governed Behavior- Rule governed behavior refers to the established norms, beliefs, morals, and values that create rules in which we has humans abide by without too much consideration. Basically what this is saying is that throughout our lives, we learn different rules and social norms in which serve as antecedents to our behaviors. We really don’t put too much though into these rules, we just go along with them. The reading talks about how at times we tend to adopt different rules without even having to experience a consequence. We simply just accept the rules.
2. Source of rules- These rules that we come to accept as determining our specific behaviors are learned from a variety of different sources from family and friends, to governments and our certain religious affiliations. The antecedents and consequences of these rules really have an affect on our behaviors.
3. Deadlines- I am a person who really likes to have a deadline when it comes on working on specific projects. Little did I know that deadlines can function as rules that govern my behavior until after reading this section. Deadlines serve as antecedents as well as discriminative stimuli.
The thing I really liked about this chapter was the overall topic. Being in this class for almost a full semester now, I still find myself learning something new every week. The concept of how much rules can affect how we behave is something I find very interesting and something I had never really thought about until the past few weeks of this class. As I was reading this section, I couldn’t help but think of all the different rules in my life that affect my behaviors that I never had thought of before. Some of those rules include common laws such as speed limits, theft, or religious topics such as marriage. I never tried to steal anything because I knew it would be breaking a rule. Like mentioned in the reading, I didn’t have to actually steal something to learn the consequences of theft, it was just a rule that was taught to me at an early age.
When thinking of rules that would be governing the behavior I want to change, eating healthy in the dinning center, one that I feel really effects my behavior is how much I can eat in the dinning center. The dinning center is only open during certain hours which affects the times I eat and the foods that are available for me to eat. Another rule governing my behavior is the menu’s in which dictate what is served in the dinning center at different meals.
Terms: Antecedents, rules, consequences, rule governed behavior, deadlines, source of rules, behavior, discriminative stimuli.
5.2
Three things I will remember after reading section 5.2 :
1)I think it’s important to remember what Rule Government Behavior is because that’s the title of the section. It is in fact, a behavior which is maintained via the obligation of maintaining order where the antecedent is verbal. This is easy to remember because it can be a set of rules that your government has set for its citizens to abide by.
2)Rules are great antecedents because they can help determine our consequences. For example, if we forget to turn off the water of the bathtub, the water will overflow and we will have a mess to clean up. The rule is to turn off the water before it overflows the bathtub. If you know what the antecedent is, you might have a better understanding about the consequence.
3)Deadlines can function as a rule governing behavior. Deadlines are a form of antecedents also and can help determine what the consequence is. I will always remember this because I am very adamant about deadlines. I get anxiety if something is late or if I’m ever late going anywhere. Mostly because I know what the consequence is and it could be a source of punishment.
I really liked this section because I’ve always been curious about rule government behaviors but I never knew the name of it. Now that I can put two and two together it’s makes sense in my mind. It helps me understand why we do some things. Such as, taking the pizza out of the oven when it’s done, because the consequence of that would be to have a burnt pizza and it wouldn’t taste very good. The reason behind it is because of the rule government behavior.
What I disliked about this section was that we didn’t have a summary. The summaries have helped me in the past understand a part that was confusing or that I didn’t understand. It made a few concepts clearer. However, this section was easily interpreted. I did like how it was short and sweet.
While I was reading I was thinking “Oh, that’s why we do that” “Oh that makes sense.” I was understanding why we act the way we do and why we do some of the things we do. Because of the rule government behavior I understand why we do some of the things we do. I understand why we stop at a stop sign and so on.
Rule governed behaviors definitely have a way to help me emit certain behaviors. Most of them are self-directed rules but none for less rules for me. I make myself go workout Mon-Fri because it makes my day better and I feel better about myself. I think it’s important to brush my teeth at least twice a day. I have to get my homework done before the deadline otherwise I about have an anxiety attack. I always show up early. I never drive more than 8 above the speed limit on the interstate. These are all rules that regulate my behavior mostly for personal reasons. Some rules that govern the behavior that I’m trying to change are that if I change my behavior I will have a smaller chance of getting a cavity. I will have better check up at the dentists and will spend less time and money there.
Terms: Emit, Rule governed behavior, Punishment, Antecedent, Consequence, Behavior, Self-directed, Deadlines, Rules
Section 5.2
1) I will remember that rule governed behavior is that behavior which is either emitted or not emitted on purpose due to the social norms that are present in their culture. This type of reinforcement for certain behaviors is a process in which individuals learns what is acceptable or not acceptable behavior. This type of governed behaviors are passed on by those in leadership roles in the communities where an individual grows up in and is socialized in.
2) The second thing I will remember from the readings for this week concerns increasing efficiency. This is done by getting organized. However, part of the process of increasing efficiency and becoming organized is done through listening to rules of governed behavior. This comes in the form of “experts” around us telling us the ideal ways to increase efficiency in our daily lives. We take what they say as truth because they are the experts after all and know what they are talking about. We don’t research what they are saying and rather implement their advice without questioning it for ourselves.
3) The rules of governed behavior that are introduced by “experts” in our society change the antecedents in which we function. The examples given in the chapter as well as the exercises we were to do show us how the advice we take from others often change the antecedents that tend increase certain behaviors that we are used to emitting. As we’ve learned in previous chapters, changing the antecedent is one of the most important aspects of changing a previously emitted behavior.
I liked how antecedents were looked at in detail as they relate to rule governed behavior. Just because we learned about they in the first chapters, does not mean that they have been firmly established in our minds, especially as they relate to this new subject of rule governed behavior. It is nice that they took the time to show us how the two are closely associated.
I didn’t like how a summary was not given. The summary always helps me get the general ideas of the chapter. I often find myself wondering how everything ties together. The summary usually clears up this confusion and helps me fully understand the major points of the chapter. I hope to see the summaries included in future chapters from the text.
The main thing that came to mind when reading this section was how rules of governed behavior effect me on a daily basis. I know I would lead a different lifestyle if it were not for laws and norms in place that govern how 22 year old males are supposed to live/interact with those around them.
Some of the sources for rule governed behavior for me include the government enforcing the speed limit. My family traditions play a huge role in governing my behavior. My family is deeply religious and that has been strongly enforced in my growing up years. As a result I have hung on to many of the same standards. I couldn’t think of any rules of governed behavior that I am planning on changing in the near future.
Terms: Rules of governed behavior, emit, behavior modification, antecedent, reinforcement, increasing efficiency, getting organized
Three things I will remember:
1. Rule governed behavior. This behavior is maintained via the obligation of maintaining order where the antecedent is verbal. This makes me think that these behaviors are just something you just do. Some families do not drink alcohol for many reasons that could be religious reasons, family problems with alcohol in the past etc. When a child grows up with parents that don't drink alcohol for certain reasons it can be an unwritten rule for that child when he/she gets older.
2. Source of rules. I will remember the source of rules section because it is interesting to me where certain rules came from. Rules can come from government, parents, society, cultures, etc. It is also interesting how one source of rules can “over power” another source of the same rule. Using the same example as I used for #1- Obviously the government has set a rule that drinking under the age of 21 is illegal. In some cases, someone who is under the age of 21 may think its okay to drink if their parents are okay with it, therefore they drink and think they can't get in trouble. Figuring out the correct source of rules is important.
3. I will remember the short section talking about individuals that emit behaviors which deviate from rules because they think or know they will not be punished. Still sticking with my previous examples- minors drinking alcohol. On a college campus there is always going to be a lot of minors drinking, some of them are not very smart with it and some are very smart. Some know that if they just stay in their dorm room and drink and aren't loud then they aren't going to get caught.
One thing I liked about this section was how our society and culture can create rule governed behaviors and we just follow those behaviors because thats just how it is.
One thing I did not like was the section on getting organized- Increasing efficiency. I can really connect with a majority of the sections but this one was kind of a bummer for me and did not have enough explanation.
Some rules governing my behaviors are some certain rules that I grew up with like not using my phone at the table. At home my family does not take out their phones when we are eating dinner and that rule has carried over even to college for me. My friends won't care if I look at my phone while eating dinner with them but that is what I grew up with and I think its “wrong” if I do it. Another rule governing behavior I have is always being to work at least 10 minutes early. I remember on my first day of work ever as a 16 year old my dad told me to be early because it looks good to your employer. Since then I have always gone to work just a little bit early.
Section 5.2
Three things I will remember from this section:
1. Rule governed behavior can affect the consequences or even emitting a behavior since they serve as antecedents. They can be in the form of established norms, morals, or ethical standards.
2. Rules can be learned and passed down in order to avoid an aversive consequence, or a positive one for that matter.
3. Deadlines. I never realized how much deadlines affect my behavior, especially in college. Without them I would be extremely disorganized and wouldn't get my assignments done until the last minute. I am the type of person who usually likes to get things done ahead of time just so I don't have to worry about being late or rushing to get things done.
I really liked how many examples were given about how many ways rule governed behavior can affect what type of behavior we emit. I never thought about rules this way and I realize that they are very important to our society.
I did not like how this section did not have a summary. I like to read them to make sure that I understood everything that was talked about in the readings and make sure that I didn't miss anything. Without them I am left to hope that I fully grasp the concept.
Some ideas that came to mind while reading this chapter were without rule governed behaviors our society would be chaotic. People would live without any rules and do what they want. This could lead to an extremely dangerous environment. The example of someone warning another person about a cop sitting around the corner is a very good and relevant example of how learning about these antecedents can prevent us and other people from experiencing an aversive consequence by passing down the rule to others we know.
Some rules that govern my behaviors are just how I was brought up. Things like be respectful, and treat others better than you want to be treated. Since the behavior that I am trying to change is reducing the amount of time that I watch television, some obvious rules governing that behavior would be; the less time I watch TV the more time I have to study. The more I study the better grades I will get. Also, watching less TV will allow me to workout more often and for longer periods of time. This will ultimately lead to being healthier and living a happier life.
Terms: rule governed behavior, emit, antecedent, consequence, aversive, behavior,
Section 5.2:
I really liked this section of learning about rule governed behavior because I didn’t really know what it was. Rule governed behavior is maintained via the obligation of maintaining order where the antecedent is verbal. Rule governed behavior can result from established norms, morals, or ethical standards as well as from rules to which a person has adhered throughout their history. One thing I will remember is the example given or a rule governed behavior. For the example, in the United States a type of rule governed behavior is the avoidance of sexual relations between members of the same family. Next, I will remember about source of rules. Source rules can be government, society, cultures, holiday traditions, family traditions, family traditions, peers, attorneys, and ourselves. Rules vary from all over the world because they have different rules/laws. And clearly depending on the rules as antecedents and the consequences to adhering to the rules can greatly alter our behaviors. Lastly I will remember the part about deadlines. Deadlines can function as rule governing behavior. Deadlines are antecedents and discriminative stimuli as well. They inform us of consequences that might occur when behaviors are time sensitive. There isn’t anything that I didn’t like because it was pretty much all new information to me. When reading this I thought about how rules actually do govern/change our behavior and we don’t really think about it.
Terms: rule governed behavior, maintained, antecedent, established norms, morals, ethical standards, adhered, source rules, consequences, deadlines, discriminative stimuli.
5.2 Rule governed behavior
Three things I will remember:
1.I will remember that there are many sources of rules such as government, society, cultures, holiday traditions, family traditions, peers, attorneys, and ourselves. This made me think of my experiences I had overseas. There were rules that people driving on vehicles drive on the opposite side of the road than the U.S. The behavior that was emitted because of this was that we had to look the opposite direction for oncoming traffic. The consequence of looking the other direction would be the punishment of getting hit by a vehicle or getting honked at.
2.I will remember that deadlines can function as rules of governing behaviors. The example given describing registering for conventions was extremely relevant for me. I had to register for my convention a month before for a cheaper registration so I could save money. The antecedent elicited the behavior of registering very early.
3.Contingencies have the effect of rules emerging. The speeding example made this easy to understand. I know of a location in my home town where a cop always sits. I passed this rule behavior on to my friends and family to help them avoid the consequence of getting a ticket.
One thing I really liked about the chapter was the description of how rules are governed. It made me think about what this world would be like without rules and it scared me a bit. People must adhere to rules or there would be extreme chaos. However, there are times when individuals go against rules which may or may not lead to punishment. Some of these broken rules are much worse than others. Going through a stop light late at night isn’t that bad of a rule breaker in my book.
One thing I did not understand or at least did not see its relevance was the section about increasing efficiency. I understand that people say to check your email twice a day but most people have a hard time of following what others say. I don’t see the consequence of checking your email more than twice a day.
Some rules that govern my behavior are driving speeds, drinking alcohol, and gym access. Some rules governing the behavior I wish to change are phone access/paying phone bill, school hours, and phone service capabilities.
Terminology: behavior, emit, elicit, consequence, punishment, deadlines, governing behaviors, antecedent, contingencies, adhere, and increasing efficiency
I really liked the quote in the beginning of this section. This quote made me feel like I already understood the section before reading it. It was also a funny quote, and made me laugh at some of the rules that our society has put in place, but also question what are some reasons for society making this rule.
Although I am not a religious person, I do know some religious rules from back when I was raised in the catholic church.
I also had fun thinking of rules that some people only sometimes follow, such as only washing their hands if they know somebody else is in the bathroom with them. One bad habit that I have developed this semester is drinking out of the milk carton, because I don't share my milk with anyone. However, if my roommates are around, I make sure to pour my milk in a glass like a proper gentleman.
One thought that I had while reading this chapter is about the arbitrary speeds chosen for speed limits. This thought came up at the question "what are some rules that you only follow because they are law and would not follow otherwise?" I usually drive the speed limit, but sometimes I find that the number that the government decided to put as the highest safe speed at which a vehicle can travel is totally arbitrary. Some speed limits are way too low and don't experience nearly enough traffic to constitute 45 mph as an unsafe speed. However, other places allow traffic to travel faster than a safe speed.
Also, this brings up the fact that people have an "acceptable" speed that stays within a certain mph of the speed limit, as though it's okay to break the law so long as you aren't breaking it by too much (such as the saying "9 you're fine, 10 you're mine.").
I think that this section stressed the importance of the antecedent in governing our behaviors. This is important to realize, because so many of our behaviors are governed by society. The ability to recognize what is governing our behaviors will give us the upper hand.
Terms:
Rules, Society, Arbitrary, Law, Speed Limit, Acceptable, Antecedent, Governing, Behaviors
Section 5.2
One thing that I liked about this section was the example flow charts using the ABC's to demonstrate examples of rule governed behavior. This was very helpful to see real world examples of what all can fall under the category of rule governed behavior. I like that it put into the terms of the antecedent, behavior, and consequence because it related it to something that has been ingrained into us throughout the entire term. This helped to show the point that with rule governed behavior the behavior itself is within the words of the rule and therefore is also the antecedent.
One thing I would have liked to have included into this section is why we adhere to rule governed behaviors without being reinforced previously for emitting the behaviors that the rule elicits. Where did we learn to do these things? Is it from being reinforced or punished for other behaviors that come from the same source of the rule? I know that later on in the section it goes on to explain that some rule goverened behaviors are followed due to experiences of being reinforced or learned from others that have been reinforced for the rule goverened behavior, but it also talks about those that are not followed for these reasons and would like to know why those instances occur.
Things to Remember
1. Deadlines are a type of rule governed behavior. They create guidelines that lay out the desired behavior, therefore act as discriminative stimuli. They also elicit the desired behavior making them antecedents as well. This is an important thing to know because it will help in creating behavior modification procedures to be effective as possible in eliciting desired behaviors. We know that antecedents are very powerful in what behaviors are emitted and by knowing how to control them and what can act.
2. There are many different sources of rule governed behaviors. They are not simply constrained to laws that are laid out for us by the government and do not even have to be limited to rules that are even written out for us such as classroom rules or work rules. They can be rules that are set by traditions and cultural norms in which have never been directly stated to us, they are learned from those around us. Understanding this allows for a greater understanding of why we emit so many of the behaviors that we do throughout our everyday lives. There are many different rule goverened behaviors that we emit throughout the day that are due to social norms that we may not even realize we are following consciously.
3. Rules are followed for different reasons and may be followed only under certain circumstanes. Some may follow rules out of a sense of obligation to a group that has placed the rules upon them. Other times certain rules are only followed when needed. Certain behaviors there are learned discriminative stimuli that elicit either the behavior being emitted or not. A good exmample that was given of this is only following rules when you believe that you will be caught. There is some discriminative stimulus that signals that punishment will be given if the rule is not followed in that situation.
Many rules that govern my day to day behaviors have been enstilled in my through my families rules and expectations. I do all of my homework, study for my tests, clean my room once a week, and don't take part in drinking all because these were things that were rules in my household that have become my own personal rules for myself. Rules that govern my overal goal of living healthier are set by my own personal guidlines. The personal subgoals that I set for myself of working out twice a week, eating two servings of fruit a day, and consuming 1400 calories a day are all rules that I have made for myself which also are the desired behaviors.
Terms Used: rule governed behavior, consequence, antecedent, reinforce, emit, elicit, discriminative stimulus
5.2
After reading this section the three things I will remember will be:
1) That deadlines can also function as rules governing behavior. Deadlines can be time specific and require a deadline. Paying a late fee for a movie is an example. The deadline encourages payment on or before the due date.
2) Another thing. I will remember is the part of following rules blindly. This was interesting and got me thinking. It discussed how we follow people, family, media, ect. When they tell us to do something. Other times we learn from experiencing ourselves. Ex. A family member tells you not to swear because its bad. Following the rule is based on the family members opinion.
3) The third thing I will remember from this section was the part on rules either being learned or handed down from a source where they were learned. This section explained how information can be handed down. I thought this was one of the best things just because it can vary so much from a direct source to a hand down. An example would be Employees learning information from their boss which was taught by the district manager. The rules were handed down.
The thing I liked most about this section is how well it was put together. We got all the information we needed while not funneling the information to a specific situation. The terms were all described as neutral and some rules are just followed because the government put them there. The section also made me realize that some rules are just there and we shouldn’t ask why. Each one of the rules can be looked at differently depending on who’s opinion it is. I liked the short but affective text section. It got the point across.
The one thing I noticed was there wasn’t a section summary review. I usually like to skim that first before I read so I can get an idea of the main terms and issues. That at the end when I read the section I always look over the summary and see if I can recall all the important facts and why they are important. It’s a good study guide and self-checker for post reading. These summaries are also easy to highlight and use for reference later. That would be the one thing I didn’t like about this section.
After reading about rules and why we follow them at times it got me thinking about
Certain rules. I also never looked at rules being handed down. Looking at it now there are a lot of rules in my life that seem to be handed down. Some of these rules are at work . It gave me more insight on behaviors in accordance with rules. Following rules blindly also got me thinking how many people do this and what are they following. It would be interesting to hear some examples from people on what they do follow blindly.
A rule governing my behavior would be speed limits. I follow these laws because I don’t want to pay the 120 fine I would get if I was caught. I normally like to speed, not speeds that are dangerous just that range higher than 25mph. Another thing that govern me are paying taxes. I would like to not pay taxes but I know there is a severe penalty if you don’t. One rule governing the behavior I would like to change would be late fees or collections. I am trying to save money by cutting down on expenses. If I didn’t have to pay my bills at all or on time I could cut down more on my spending. The governing rules make me pay by the due date or I will then also receive late penalty. This is the main rule governing my planned change behavior.
Terms: learned rule, handed down rule, rule governing behavior, aversive, punishment, target behavior
The first thing I will remember from this chapter is the term rule governed behavior. Rule governed behavior is a behavior which is maintained via the obligation of maintaining order where the antecedent is verbal. These behaviors are enforced by social norms and government laws. For example, being quite in a library. Being quiet in a library is what is expected from all who enter. This is a rule governed behavior.
Secondly I will remember the sources of the rule. From this I will mostly remember that where you are and what you believe dictates the rule governed behavior. I grew up believing in Christianity so celebrating birthdays is what you did. It was normal and expect. My finance grew up as a Jehovah’s Witness so it was normal for him to not celebrate birthdays. It is important to know and understand the norm of where you are and who you are with or you might face consequences you wouldn’t have expected.
One of the last things I will remember is increased efficacy. Increase efficacy is when you do something or when something becomes a norm because an expert told you to do so. It is said to look at a paper once and then either file it or throw it away. When doing this, you are really putting your faith in this expert hoping that the consequence is in your favor.
I really like this chapter because I found it relatable. You wear black at a funeral because that is what is expected. You stop at a stop sign even though there is clearly no one around because the sign tells you too. I also learned about this topic in my Social Psychology class which made it review and easy to understand. I liked this chapter because it was short but because it was short, it was a little more difficult to come up with three things I would remember. This is the only thing I can say I dislike about the chapter. While reading this chapter, I really thought about the behaviors I emit because it is what is expected of me. I am quiet in class while taking notes because that is what everyone else is doing. I bow my head and close my eyes during prayer because that’s just what you do. This all may seem trivial but it’s the social norm that I follow every day.
Some rules that govern my behavior are using a blinker and staying quiet in the library. Also, not slandering my jobs name on facebook (a problem co-works of mine are having). For me, it is normal to go out to eat for social activity. Because of this, I am going out to eat more than I would prefer to.
Terms: Rule governed behavior, behavior, sources of rule, emit, consequence, increased efficacy, antecedent.
The first thing I will remember is that behaviors are influenced by the rules established. Because if there was no rule for the appropriate amount of speed you could drive on the highway then the amount of speed would vary depending on the person’s mood or feel for driving fast. I will remember this because it makes me imagine a world if there were no rules how many current rules would be broken. The second thing I will remember is that there are different types of rules, there are rules made by society, personal choices, cultures, traditions, and etc. I will remember this because I live by rules everyday because I have my own motivations because of society, religion, and family traditions. The third thing I will remember is that it takes organization to increase efficiency, because if you organize an amount of time a day to do a behavior or a certain time of day to do something is getting organized to reinforce a behavior. What was one thing that you really liked that was in the chapter? Why? I really liked the whole chapter because the idea about having rules enforcing behaviors is relevant to life in general. What was one thing that you disliked that was in the chapter? Why? I can’t think of anything I didn’t like about this section because I thought this section was really informing and interesting. What were some ideas that came to mind when you were reading the section? When reading this I thought of how my life would be different if I had no rules to abide by because if there were no rules there would be no standards and also how would there be any regulations like how would we determine what behavior produced negative consequences/ positive consequences if there was no rules? That is what I thought of while reading this section.
What are some rules governing your behaviors? Some rules governing my behavior would be my ability to go to bed earlier because going to bed early would be my antecedent which would influence my behavior of reading more of the bible before I get tired. This could make my consequence a positive consequence by increasing my reading. What are some rules governing the behavior you are planning to change? I am potentially planning to change the time I go to bed earlier because that could also increase my behavior more and increase my likelihood of continuing to read more from my bible.
terms: behavior, consequence, positive, reinforced, negative.
5.2
Three things that I will remember from this section:
1)Rule governed behavior can affect if you emit a behavior. It is when a behavior is maintained by way of the obligation of maintaining order where the antecedent is verbal. These can cause behavior norms if established as a child.
2)Deadlines and how they function as rules that govern behavior. Deadlines are antecedents that help to shape one's behavior. They can also be a discriminative stimuli.
3)Sources of Rules. Rules can come from many things such as parents, government, and society. Behaviors change depending on what the rules of antecedents and consequences are. Which can be different depending on what currently is your source of rules.
I liked that I could relate to this section pretty easily. I thought it was a good section size too. It wasn't to long so there wasn't to much information to try and remember. It made me think about how much society influences peoples behaviors. Even if a behavior is not illegal in the government's eyes but society looks down on it then that can shape your behavior to become the norm of society. Some rules governing my behavior are rules that I grew up with such as being polite and no elbows on the table when eating dinner along with many other little rules.
5.2
One thing I liked about this chapter was that it was simple and strait forward. It was easy to follow and understand. There wasn't anything I have questions on. I didn't find anything to complain about with this chapter it was short and I liked it. Three things I will remember are: 1. Source of Rules: This just means that rules come from a variety of sources. Those sources can be from society, ourselves, our family, any type of government or even traditions. 2. Rule Governed Behavior: this is any behavior that we know is forbidden or definitely heavily disapproved of. Throughout history these rules have been decided, and if people want to fit in they will usually follow these rules. 3. Depending on the consequences we might or might not keep following a certain rule. If we have an aversive experience following a rule someone has told us then we will be less likely to keep following this rule. When I was reading this section I thought about stories I have heard of other countries and the rules they enforce. Some of them seem pretty crazy or extreme, however with culture everything’s a matter of perspective. I think society governs a lot of what I do, I used to follow a lot of my mother’s rules as well however that’s changed since I’ve come to college and live on my own.
Terms: Source of Rules, Rule Governed Behavior, consequences, aversive, behavior.
5.2
From this section, I will remember that there are different sources of rules. These rules can come from the government, family members, teachers, ourselves etc. I will also remember that many of our day to day behaviors are rule governed. We might buckle our seat belts because it’s the law, and as a consequence avoid a ticket or even avoid injury or death should an accident occur. We put potholders on our hands when we take casseroles out of the oven to avoid being burned. Almost everything we do is rule governed by something. Lastly, I will remember that deadlines can function as a rule governing behavior. I think this one is a big rule governing behavior for me. A lot of what I do each day I have to get done before a certain deadline. If I pay my rent a day late, I have to pay twenty extra dollars, and an additional twenty for each day after that. If I turn in an assignment late, I either get a 0 or a lower score. Deadlines are important to me.
I really liked the whole section because it can be so easily applied to everyday life. You can literally pick out almost anything and it can be considered a rule governed behavior.
The only thing I did not really like is how the section jumped right into the definition of rule governed behavior. I found the definition to be kind of confusing, and did not really understand what a rule governed behavior was until reading much further into the section. Even then, I had to read the section a few times before I fully understood. I wish the section would have included a less wordy definition of rule governed behavior, and explained everything a little simpler.
Some ideas that came to mind when reading the section were different behaviors that were rule governed by religion. The section mentioned that some religions don’t celebrate birthdays. This made me think of people who don’t celebrate Christmas or even religions who don’t allow you to marry certain people.
Some rules governing my behavior are rules set by my professors, who tell me when assignments are due and when we have tests.
Terms: sources of rules, rule governing behaviors, deadlines, consequences,
From section 5.2, discussing rule governed behavior; I’ll remember that the definition of rule-governed behavior is a behavior, which is maintained through the obligation of maintaining order where the antecedent is verbal. Also, these rule-guided behaviors often result from established norms, morals, or ethical standards. This will be simple to remember since the whole section discussed and explained what the term means and provided helpful examples along with it. I’ll also remember that rules come from sources such as the government and society because I am reminded of them everyday when I drive, do my homework, wake up on time, and almost every other behavior I emit on a given day. If I don’t wake up when my alarm goes off, I oversleep and that can result in not having enough time in my day to complete the tasks I have. When I don’t get a workout in, the consequence is I feel guilty and bad that I didn’t take the time for myself. These are all rules that function as an antecedent for a behavior. I’ll remember this because I experience every day.
I really liked that this section was brief, yet very informative and easy to understand. The examples provided were extremely beneficial to understanding the ways rule guided behaviors take place in every day life. I really didn’t find anything that I disliked from this chapter.
As I stated above, waking up when my alarm goes off and getting my workout in are rules that guide my behavior on a daily basis. Regarding my behavior that I want to change, increasing my mileage by only ten percent every week is a rule that I need to obtain to avoid the consequence of injury.
Terms: Rule governed behavior, Antecedent, Consequence
One thing I really liked about section 5.2 was how it only focused on rule-governed behavior. I liked that this section only focused on one topic because its easier to follow and understand what the section is discussing. It was also a very short section; it was straight to the point and easy to understand.
One thing I disliked about section 5.2 was how there were little examples; the section gave us several times to practice but hardly gave us examples. I didn’t like this because I think by getting several great examples it helps us learn what is being taught.
Three things I will remember from section 5.2 is that: 1) rule governed behavior can result from established norms and moral standards, 2) it is important to get organized, and 3) it is important to increase efficiency. I will remember that rule governed behavior can result from established norms and moral standards because the section gave examples of not stopping at a stop sign in the early morning because you know there wont be any police cars around. I will remember that it is important to get organized with rule-governed behavior because if you’re not organized the behavior will not be emitted in a successful manner. Lastly, it is important to increase efficiency because if you increase the efficiency of your behavior it gets you more organized to become successful with emitting your behavior.
Some ideas that came to mind while reading this section were how I emit behaviors without even realize I am doing them. For example, at night when its very light I am more likely to not stop at stop signs if no one is around because I know that I am unlikely to get pulled over so late in the night. Many other behaviors that I emit came to might while reading this section as well. This section made me think about behaviors that are established from religious standpoints and which behaviors I follow or do not follow. It was interesting to me to think about all the different rule governed behaviors that I emit on a daily basis.
Some rules that govern my behaviors are drinking, if it wasn’t the law for me to not buy alcohol at the bar I would do it. Another rule that governs my behavior is having a dog where I live. It is against the rules of my apartment complex to have a dog but if it wasn’t I would have a puppy. I do not think there are any rules that are governing my behavior that I am trying to change. There aren’t any rules that do not allow me to jog three times a day from at least 30 minutes. There are things that get in the way such as school, work, and my social time with friends and family, but not rules that state I can not do such a thing.
Terms: rule governed behavior, behaviors, behavior, get organized, increase efficiency, emit, and emitted.
Some things I will remember:
1) Functional Assessment- is a behavior designed to help you develop a hypothesis regarding the relationship between the ABC’s and behavior. You can identify the antecedents and the consequences resulting from the antecedents. By knowing and understanding the functional assessment we are able to experiment with behavioral experimentations. The only way to test the hypothesis is try it out with an experiment!
2) Some assessments could involve: direct assessment- observation or recording of details by you or others. Indirect assessment- Interview process of questionnaires
3) Documenting your progress allows sufficient info to gather the ABC’s related to the target behavior, graph the baseline, allow insight, and allowed for the target goal to be redefined to fit the goal.
One Thing I liked:: I like the examples that were given about the doughnuts and leaning out if the habit or behavior is too difficult to break right away. I also learned that it is okay to change your reinforcement, to better fit you r circumstance.
The only thing I disliked about this section is that I thought it could’ve been a lot better organized- to much of the information seemed scattered. I felt it would’ve been better if there was a little more structure.
Rules Governing my Behaviors
No soda at the dining centers, always water. Make sure to drink water plenty before and after workout. Don’t cheat and drink caffeine to stay awake. Drink water throughout the day- preferable a water bottle.
Terminology: Functional Assessment, heavier, hypothesis, antecedents, consequence, behavioral consequences, learning, experimenting, baseline, target behavior