Permiso por puntos, condicionamiento instrumental y conducción

Abstract

The implementation in Spain of the "penalty points system for driving licences" seems to revive the classical theoretical debate at the heart of the Psychology of Learning as to the efficacy of punishment as opposed to reinforcement or reward (Froufe, 2004; Maag, 2001). Driving behaviour is modulated by, among others, social, economic, legal, and safety consequences. A review of how the principles of instrumental learning could affect driving may be useful in order to distinguish which procedure or set of procedures might modify drivers' behaviour most effectively. In the present work, the classic articles of learning applied to driving (Hurst, 1980; Warren, 1982) are reviewed in order to make a judgement as to their contribution according to the Principles of Learning. The final goal of the article is to question how it might be possible to reduce accident rates and prevent accidents, especially for those groups at highest risk.