Question

In 100 words Define and give an example of each of the following concepts: a. direct-acting contingency b. indirect-acting contingency c. ineffective contingency

Answer 1

A. Direct-acting contingency

A direct acting contingency is a situation in which the immediate reward or punishment may reinforce the outcomes of the behavior positively or negatively. Direct acting contingency can control behavior of all organism.

Example- Reena study hard to earn good marks and avoid the embarrassment of not making into the next scholar year. Here Reena puts her effort to avoid the embarrassment which could immediately occur if she fails in the exam. Thus, the outcome of response that failure in this case acts as a positive punishment for her behavior of studying hard in order to avoid failure.

B. Indirect-acting contingency

Indirect-acting contingency is rule based contingency, the behavior is controlled by the statement of the rule or a condition. It does not control the outcomes of the response but the response itself. It can only control the behavior of the organsims that can understand language.

Example- The condition or rule that if Lia behaves well in the class, she would be rewarded with stickers would increase the chance of Lia's good behavior. Thus, here the response of Lia to the condition or rule is controlled by the reward of stricker.

C. Ineffective Contingency

When rules do not produce strong responses, then it is called ineffective contingency.

Example- Lia is to follow the rule of good behavior, she follows the rule and behaves well in the class.