Department of Psychology, Western New England University, 1215 Wilbraham Road, Springfield, MA, 01119, United States.
Behav Processes. 2021 May;186:104342. doi: 10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104342. Epub 2021 Feb 2.
Response force is a fundamental dimension of behavior. Yet, little is known about its functional significance for learning. The present review examines the behavioral effects of force across several domains. Along the way, advantages of different measurement strategies that have been used to study force are evaluated. The behavioral functions of force are also considered in light of two commonly expressed notions about behavior. First, the Law of Least Effort predicts that animals and humans will act in ways that minimize the costs of behaving. Second, it is widely held that work requirements and effortful responding are aversive. A review of the literature, especially regarding behavioral adaptations to force, is consistent with the Law of Least Effort on many points. Empirical data are less clear on the aversive properties of force requirements. For much of the literature, there is little in coherent findings. Many disagreements and inconsistencies pertain to measurement strategies that fail to record the full range of response variants. Consistent support for aversive functions of force requirements have been obtained only when studied as a negative reinforcer.
力反应是行为的一个基本维度。然而，对于力对学习的功能意义知之甚少。本综述考察了力在几个领域的行为效应。在此过程中，评估了用于研究力的不同测量策略的优势。还根据关于行为的两个常见观点来考虑力的行为功能。首先，最小努力定律预测动物和人类将采取最小化行为成本的行动方式。其次，人们普遍认为工作要求和费力反应是令人厌恶的。对文献的回顾，特别是关于对力的行为适应的文献，在许多方面都与最小努力定律一致。关于力要求的厌恶特性的实证数据不太清楚。对于大部分文献来说，很少有一致的发现。许多分歧和不一致之处都涉及未能记录反应变体全貌的测量策略。只有当力需求被作为负强化物来研究时，才得到了对力需求的厌恶功能的一致支持。
