Degree Name
Master of Science
Graduate Program
Behavior Analysis and Therapy
Advisor
Camilo Hurtado Parrado
Abstract
Flora et al. (1992, 2003) found that intense noise or pain caused by cold pressor procedure increased the number of impulsive responses (choice of a smaller-sooner reinforcer over a larger-later reinforcer) when presented concurrently with a choice task. Hurtado-Parrado et al. (2023) and Orozco-Barrios (2023) recently conducted systematic replications using aversive visual stimuli via a matching-to-sample task, but the results were inconsistent in reproducing the disruptive effect on self-control behavior reported by Flora et al. In a separate line of research, Berry et al. (2014, 2015) demonstrated changes in impulsive behavior with simple and brief exposure to images of Natural and Built environments. It thus appears that the difficulties to reproduce the effect of aversive stimulation on impulsive choice is related to the specific stimuli implemented. The present study aimed to systematically replicate Hurtado-Parrado et al.’s (2023) protocol to evaluate the effects of matching the same images implemented by Berry et al. on impulsive responses of college students. The same aversive images used by Hurtado-Parrado et al. (images of mutilation from the International Affective Picture System, IAPS) were included for comparison purposes. A single-case changing conditions design was implemented, which replicated Orozco-Barrios’ but added stability criteria. Four conditions were configured. One with no matching of images (No-Images), and three depending on the type of image matched, i.e., No-Images, Natural Environments, Built Environments, and IAPS Unpleasant. Results indicated that (a) only three participants showed preference for the self-control option and one indifference in the No-Images condition. The rest preferred the impulsive option, (b) all participants, except one, did not change their choice pattern when they transitioned from the No-Images condition to the first treatment condition (either matching Unpleasant, Built or Natural images); (c) five out of six participants who showed impulsive preference during the No-Images condition maintained the same choice pattern during all treatment conditions, and two out of three participants who showed self-control preference also maintained their preference; (d) participants who showed self-control preference during the No-Images condition showed a somewhat staggered pattern of increasing percentage of correct matching across conditions; and (e) most participants maintained correct matching responses above 50% across all conditions. Overall, these findings indicate the disruptive effect of self-control choice reported by Flora et al. was not reproduced using visual stimulation. The possible role of unplanned motivating operations, insensitivity to changes in the task due to rule-governed behavior, and not sufficient exposure to the overall rates of reinforcement associated with the self-control option are discussed.