Abstract
This study examined the control exerted by different types of rules on the behavior of preschool children. Four similar rules were presented to eight, four-year-old children, using a multielement design. The contingencies the rules described varied in the specification of deadlines and in the delays in the delivery of the reinforcers. The results showed (a) rules specifying only response requirements did not reliably control behavior, (b) rules specifying an immediate deadline with the immediate delivery of a reinforcer exerted reliable control, (c) rules specifying an immediate deadline with a one-week delay in the delivery of the reinforcer also exerted reliable control, and (d) rules specifying no deadline with a one-week delay in the delivery of the reinforcer exerted little control. These results suggest that a rule’s specification of a deadline is crucial in its control of behavior, but the delay of the reinforcer is of little importance. This latter conclusion further suggests that problems in self-control do not result from delayed outcomes or the inablity to delay gratification, contrary to conventional wisdom.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amabile, T. M., DeJong, W., & Lepper, M. R. (1976). Effects of imposed deadlines on subsequent intrinsic motivation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 34, 92–98.
Baer, D. M., & Sherman, J. A. (1964). Reinforcement control of generalized imitation in young children. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 1, 37–48.
Deci, E. L. (1972). The effects of contingent and non-contingent rewards and controls on intrinsic motivation. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 8, 217–229.
Keller, F. S. (1968). “Good-bye, teacher.” Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1, 79–89.
Malott, R. W. (1984). Rule-governed behavior, self-management, and the developmentally disabled: A theoretical analysis. Analysis and Intervention in Developmental Disabilities, 4, 199–209.
Malott, R. W. (1986). Self-management, rule-governed behavior, and everyday life. In H. W. Reese, & L. J. Parrott (Eds.), Behavioral science: Philosophical, methodological, and empirical advances (pp. 207–228). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Malott, R. W. (1988). Rule-governed behavior and behavior anthropology. The Behavior Analyst, 11, 181–203.
Malott, R. W. (1989). The achievement of evasive goals controlled by rules describing contingencies that are not direct-acting. In S. C. Hayes (Ed.), Rule-governed behavior: Cognition, contingencies, and instructional control (pp. 269–322). New York: Plenum.
Malott, R. W., & Malott, M. E. (1990). Private events and rule-governed behavior. In L. J. Hayes, & P. N. Chase (Eds.), Dialogues on verbal behavior (pp. 237–254). Reno, NV: Context Press.
Skinner, B. F. (1953). Science and human behavior. New York: Macmillan.
Skinner, B. F. (1957). Verbal behavior. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Skinner, B. F. (1969). Contingencies of reinforcement. Englewood-Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Welsh, T. M., Malott, R. W., & Kent, H. N. (1980). The use of behavioral contracting to eliminate procrastination in a PSI course. Journal of Personalized Instruction, 4, 103–104.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The authors would like to thank the staff of St. Marks preschool. Appreciation is also extended to Jack Michael and Norm Peterson for their critical comments on an earlier version of the manusript.
This article is based on a master’s thesis submitted by the first author to the Department of Psychology, Western Michigan University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the MA degree.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Braam, C., Malott, R.W. “I’ll do it when the snow melts”: The effects of deadlines and delayed outcomes on rule-governed behavior in preschool children. Analysis Verbal Behav 8, 67–76 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392848
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392848