Incentives and Reinforcement: A Behavioral Approach to Fertility
- 1 October 1974
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Journal of Social Issues
- Vol. 30 (4) , 235-263
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.1974.tb01762.x
Abstract
A reinforcement analysis of fertility, emphasizing the principles of applied behavior analysis, shifts attention from response‐inferred constructs (beliefs, attitudes, wishes, and preferences) to manipulable environmental variables demonstrated to be functionally related to fertility behavior. The analysis suggests a variety of relevant target behaviors to be strengthened by setting up appropriate reinforcement contingencies (incentive systems). Attention is paid to the practical difficulties that are met in any effort to manipulate important reinforcers for large masses of people. It is concluded that a functional analysis offers both practically useful techniques and a powerful research paradigm; the analysis should facilitate efforts by governments and other social agencies to lower fertility.Keywords
This publication has 47 references indexed in Scilit:
- SingaporeStudies in Family Planning, 1973
- A Cost-Effect Analysis of a Family Planning Program: Findings of a Quasi-Experimental StudyStudies in Family Planning, 1973
- New methods in the behavioral treatment of sexual dysfunctionJournal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 1972
- Condoms--A New LookFamily Planning Perspectives, 1972
- Condom Use in JapanStudies in Family Planning, 1972
- Time Series of Pill and IUD Use: United States, 1961-1970Studies in Family Planning, 1972
- Reforms as experiments.American Psychologist, 1969
- Mortality level, desired family size, and population increaseDemography, 1968
- Self-perception: An alternative interpretation of cognitive dissonance phenomena.Psychological Review, 1967