ABSTRACT
In Vaughan (1985) a model of choice behavior was suggested. That model, which is based on melioration (Herrnstein & Vaughan, 1980), applies to both simple concurrent, and concurrent-chains, schedules of positive reinforcement. At the end of that paper it was mentioned that, in addition to positive reinforcers, the model could apply to aversive stimuli as well. Here the entire model is reviewed, with an emphasis on how it applies to aversive stimuli (in particular, electric shocks). Although there are a number of models of choice for positive reinforcement on simple concurrent and concurrent-chains schedules, and several models of choice with regard to aversive stimuli, the overlap between the two sets is small. The basic argument made here is that the present model can make predictions that accord qualitatively with known data for a range of both simple concurrent, and concurrent-chains, experiments involving both positive reinforcement and aversive stimuli.
