Howard Rachlin
Encyclopedia
Howard Rachlin is Emeritus Research Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology, State University of New York, Stony Brook (SUNY
, Stony Brook, New York 11794, USA. His initial work was in the quantitative analysis of operant behavior in pigeons, on which he worked with William M. Baum, developing ideas from Richard Herrnstein
's matching law
. He subsequently became one of the founders of Behavioral Economics. His current research focuses on patterns of choice over time and how those patterns effect self-control (on which he worked with George Ainslie
), including cooperation over time. His interests in Behavioral Economics include: decision making, the prisoner's dilemma
, addiction, and gambling. He was one of the first board members of the Society for Quantitative Analysis of Behavior
.
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
, Stony Brook, New York 11794, USA. His initial work was in the quantitative analysis of operant behavior in pigeons, on which he worked with William M. Baum, developing ideas from Richard Herrnstein
Richard Herrnstein
Richard J. Herrnstein was an American researcher in animal learning in the Skinnerian tradition. He was one of the founders of quantitative analysis of behavior....
's matching law
Matching law
In operant conditioning, the matching law is a quantitative relationship that holds between the relative rates of response and the relative rates of reinforcement in concurrent schedules of reinforcement...
. He subsequently became one of the founders of Behavioral Economics. His current research focuses on patterns of choice over time and how those patterns effect self-control (on which he worked with George Ainslie
George Ainslie (psychologist)
George W. Ainslie is an American psychiatrist, psychologist and behavioral economist.Unusually for a psychiatrist, Ainslie undertook experimental animal research in operant conditioning, under the guidance of Howard Rachlin...
), including cooperation over time. His interests in Behavioral Economics include: decision making, the prisoner's dilemma
Prisoner's dilemma
The prisoner’s dilemma is a canonical example of a game, analyzed in game theory that shows why two individuals might not cooperate, even if it appears that it is in their best interest to do so. It was originally framed by Merrill Flood and Melvin Dresher working at RAND in 1950. Albert W...
, addiction, and gambling. He was one of the first board members of the Society for Quantitative Analysis of Behavior
Society for Quantitative Analysis of Behavior
The Society for Quantitative Analysis of Behavior was founded in 1978 by Michael Lamport Commons and John Anthony Nevin. The first president was Richard J. Herrnstein. In the beginning it was called the Harvard Symposium on Quantitative Analysis of Behavior...
.