Premack Principle and Response Hierarchy

Modified: 2024-07-02 1:38 AM CDST

• You can control your own behavior or others' behavior by using the Premack Principle.
  • First, you must learn the reinforcement hierarchy of the person you want to control.
    • Then, you must be able to make items high on that hierarchy dependent upon the performance of items low on the hierarchy.
    • For example, my children love candy.
    • What do they have to do to get it? They have to eat other foods first.
    • Then they can have some candy.
  • I like to spend time on the Internet.
    • But, before I will allow myself to do so, I must complete some other lower ranking task like filling out health insurance forms.

My reinforcement hierarchy right now might look like this:

1. Read electronic mail
2. Navigate the Internet
3. Eat a snack
4. Read the news online
5. Watch some television
6. Take a short nap
7. Take a short walk
8. Drink some coffee
9. Clean out my truck
10. Wash the dishes
11. Feed the dogs
12. Make dinner for family
13. Mow the lawn
14. Paint the lawn furniture
15. Install closet shelving
16. Clean my office
17. See dentist about rotten tooth
18. Prepare tomorrow's lecture
19. Prepare for new class in Fall
20. Roof house

• By making myself wash the dishes before I watch TV, I am using the Premack Principle.
  • Can you see why?
• How could parents use the Premack Principle at McDonalds?
• By using the child's reinforcement hierarchy:
  1. Play in playground
  2. Eat french fries
  3. Eat chicken nuggets
• They would have the child eat chicken nuggets before child could go to the playground.