Efeito de consequências e regras na obediência às Leis: um modelo experimental

Abstract

The objective of this study was to relate basic principles of Behavioral Psychology with Law, more specifically the Criminal Law, through a set of five experiments in order to observe concepts as reinforcement, extinction, punishment, choice/preference and instructional control and the interchange with the Brazilian Criminal System, in a variable ratio schedule. The participants of the experiments were students of the Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Goiás (PUCGO), without history in experimental tasks, of both sexes and ages between 18 and 35 years. In Experiment I, four participants were exposed to seven experimental conditions, where the reinforcement densities were defined as 0,05 and 0,5 in a situation of concurrent choosing. The results of Experiment I confirm that the reinforcement density controlled choosing, and when there were a difference in the density of these two choices, the operant with a larger density of reinforcement were preferred. In Experiment II, four participants were exposed to eleven experimental conditions, that observed if the participants responded under the control of the presented rule (Don´t touch) or under the reinforcement contingent (0,05 x 0,5). The variability found in Phase IV can be determined by the density of reinforcement and the introduction of the rule. In Experiment III, eight participants, divided in Group 1 and Group 2, were exposed to seven conditions, to observe if the consequential control can be overlapped by the instructions presented in Phase III. The rule was not enough to control the behavior of the Pp1, Pp3 and Pp4 of Group 1 and the Pp1, Pp2, Pp3 and Pp4 of Group 2, perhaps because of the high density of reinforcement (1 x 0,1). In Experiment IV, four participants were exposed to seven experimental conditions, where it was investigated how the manipulation of density of reinforcement (extinction, 0.1 and 1) exerted control in the distribution of responses, and how the past history and reinforcement might be determinants of breaking rules. Here, as following the rule meant to lose reinforces, participants chose to break it, gaining points that were converted into cash. Experiment V, four participants were exposed to seven experimental conditions to investigate, in concurrent situations, if the behavioral control is exercised by the rules presented or the consequences (punishment and reinforcement). All participants chose to distribute their responses in the blue circle, being under the consequencial control of both the reinforcement (p=1) as the punishment, since in order to avoid losing points, the participant had to choose to respond in the blue circle. It was observed at the end of the experiments held here that the rules were not able to maintain the behavior of participants. The SDs (the rules) depend on the consequences (S+ and S-) to be followed (obeyed). Changing the rules will not be enough to reduce crime, but with it, reinforce socially appropriate behaviors.