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Premack Principle

Behaviorist and Cognitive Processing Theories

The Premack principle, also called the relativity theory of reinforcement, is a principle of behavioral psychology holding that a more probable behavior, one an individual is more likely to perform when given a free choice, reinforces a less probable behavior, one the individual is less likely to perform when given a free choice.

Facts
Core Claim
The Premack principle, or the relativity theory of reinforcement, states that more probable behaviors will reinforce less probable behaviors. 1
Origin Year
1959 1
Sources
1. Premack principle (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia
  • Lead paragraph
    The Premack principle, or the relativity theory of reinforcement, states that more probable behaviors will reinforce less probable behaviors.
  • Citations section, Premack 1959
    Premack, D. (1959). Toward empirical behavior laws: I. Positive reinforcement. Psychological Review, 66(4), 219-233.
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