Ayllon T, Azrin N H
J Exp Anal Behav. 1965 Nov;8(6):357-83. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1965.8-357.
An attempt was made to strengthen behaviors of psychotics by applying operant reinforcement principles in a mental hospital ward. The behaviors studied were necessary and/or useful for the patient to function in the hospital environment. Reinforcement consisted of the opportunity to engage in activities that had a high level of occurrence when freely allowed. Tokens were used as conditioned reinforcers to bridge the delay between behavior and reinforcement. Emphasis was placed on objective definition and quantification of the responses and reinforcers and upon programming and recording procedures. Standardizing the objective criteria permitted ward attendants to administer the program. The procedures were found to be effective in maintaining the desired adaptive behaviors for as long as the procedures were in effect. In a series of six experiments, reinforced behaviors were considerably reduced when the reinforcement procedure was discontinued; the adaptive behaviors increased immediately when the reinforcement procedure was re-introduced.
在一家精神病院的病房里，人们尝试运用操作性强化原则来强化精神病患者的行为。所研究的行为对于患者在医院环境中正常生活是必要的和/或有用的。强化措施包括让患者有机会参与在自由活动时经常出现的活动。代币被用作条件强化物，以弥合行为与强化之间的延迟。重点在于对反应和强化物进行客观定义和量化，以及程序设计和记录。标准化的客观标准使病房护理人员能够实施该计划。结果发现，只要这些程序有效，它们就能有效地维持所需的适应性行为。在一系列六个实验中，当停止强化程序时，强化行为显著减少；当重新引入强化程序时，适应性行为立即增加。
