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The role of negative reinforcement; or: Is there an altruist in the house?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 March 2003

Edmund J. Fantino  and
Stephanie J. Stolarz-Fantino
Edmund J. Fantino
Affiliation:
>Department of Psychology, 0109, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0109 efantino@ucsd.edusfantino@psy.ucsd.edu
Stephanie J. Stolarz-Fantino
Affiliation:
>Department of Psychology, 0109, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0109 efantino@ucsd.edusfantino@psy.ucsd.edu
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Abstract

We agree with Rachlin's argument that altruism is best understood as a case of self-control, and that a behavioral analysis is appropriate. However, the appeal to teleological behaviorism and the value of behavioral patterns may be unnecessary. Instead, we argue that altruism can generally be explained with traditional behavioral principles such as negative reinforcement, conditioned reinforcement, and rule-governed behavior.

Type
Brief Report
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 25 , Issue 2 , April 2002 , pp. 257 - 258
Copyright
© 2002 Cambridge University Press

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