The effects of magnitude on the displacement of leisure items by edible items

Studies have shown that when edible items and leisure items are both presented in preference assessments, edible items tend to displace leisure items. While prior studies have established this trend, the underlying mechanisms behind this displacement remain unclear. One potential explanation is the relatively brief period of access typically granted to leisure items during preference assessments does not have a reinforcing value greater than the food item. The purpose of the present study sought to evaluate the impact of increasing access to leisure items on preference. Participants were presented with both highly preferred edible and leisure items, and the duration of access to the leisure was systematically increased across series to measure the point at which the leisure item became more preferred than the edible item. The findings suggest that as access to leisure items increases, displacement is likely to occur.