Matching Law
Definition
The finding that when two or more behaviors are available at once, the proportion of responding devoted to each tends to match the proportion of reinforcement each produces. Rate, quality, immediacy and effort all count. It explains why a problem behavior that is reinforced sometimes competes so well with a replacement behavior that is reinforced less richly.
In plain language
People split their behavior between options in line with how much each option pays off. If the problem behavior pays better, it wins.
Example
A student's calling out gets an answer every time and hand raising gets one sometimes. Calling out stays the more common of the two.
Not matching law
A single behavior on a single schedule with no alternative. Matching describes choice between options.
See also
Written from
- herrnstein-1961
Written from Herrnstein (1961). No textbook glossary consulted.
This entry has not yet been through clinical review. Treat it as a draft.