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. 1979 Jan;31(1):71–81. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1979.31-71

The effect of punishment on free-operant choice behavior in humans

C M Bradshaw, E Szabadi, P Bevan
PMCID: PMC1332790  PMID: 16812124

Abstract

During Phase I, three female human subjects pressed a button for monetary reinforcement in five variable-interval schedules specifying different frequencies of reinforcement. On alternate days, responding was also punished (by subtracting money) according to a variable-ratio 34 schedule. In the absence of punishment, response rates conformed to Herrnstein's equation for single variable-interval schedules. Punishment suppressed responding at all frequencies of reinforcement. This was reflected in a change in the values of both constants in Herrnstein's equation: the value of the theoretical maximum response-rate parameter was reduced, and the parameter describing the reinforcement frequency corresponding to the half-maximal response rate was elevated. During Phase II, the same five schedules (A) were in operation (without punishment), but in addition, a concurrent variable-interval schedule (B) of standard reinforcement frequency was introduced. On alternate days, responding in Component B was punished according to a variable-ratio 34 schedule. In the absence of punishment, absolute response rates conformed to equations proposed by Herrnstein to describe performance in concurrent schedules; the ratios of the response rates in the two components and the ratios of the times spent in the two components conformed to the Matching Law. When responding in Component B was punished, response rates in Component B were reduced and those in Component A were elevated, these changes being reflected in distortions of the matching relationship.

Keywords: Herrnstein's equation, matching law, response rates, reinforcement frequency, variable interval, variable-ratio punishment, concurrent schedules, button pressing, humans

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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