| Abstract: | A total of 33 male psychiatric patients who participated in a token system were exposed to changes in the token price of available commodities in 2 experiments. In Exp I the price of cigarettes was first raised, then lowered. As predicted, consumption of cigarettes decreased during price increases and increased during price decreases. Contrary to expectations, Ss did not consume less of other commodities or increase their earnings in order to purchase cigarettes at the higher prices. In Exp II, which again raised and lowered the price of cigarettes, evidence was found for the notion that the proportional price change rather than the absolute price change governed cigarette consumption behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
