Skip to main content
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior logoLink to Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
. 1973 Nov;20(3):499–510. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1973.20-499

Failure to obtain positive contrast when pigeons press a bar1

R F Westbrook
PMCID: PMC1334175  PMID: 16811722

Abstract

In Experiment 1, two groups of pigeons were exposed to multiple variable-interval 1-min variable-interval 1-min schedules of reinforcement. The required response was a key peck for one group, and a foot press of a bar for the other. When the procedure was shifted to multiple variable-interval 1-min extinction, positive contrast occurred with pigeons that key pecked, whereas negative induction occurred with those that bar pressed. Moreover, the absence of contrast could not be ascribed to the lack of inhibition, since negative generalization gradients after bar press training were U-shaped in Experiment 2. The results are discussed in terms of possible relationships between positive contrast and the phenomenon of autoshaping.

Full text

PDF
509

Selected References

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

  1. BRETHOWER D. M., REYNOLDS G. S. A facilitative effect of punishment on unpunished behavior. J Exp Anal Behav. 1962 Apr;5:191–199. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1962.5-191. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bernheim J. W., Williams D. R. Time-dependent contrast effects in a multiple schedule of food reinforcement. J Exp Anal Behav. 1967 May;10(3):243–249. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1967.10-243. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Brown P. L., Jenkins H. M. Auto-shaping of the pigeon's key-peck. J Exp Anal Behav. 1968 Jan;11(1):1–8. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1968.11-1. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. FLESHLER M., HOFFMAN H. S. A progression for generating variable-interval schedules. J Exp Anal Behav. 1962 Oct;5:529–530. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1962.5-529. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Gamzu E., Schwartz B. The maintenance of key pecking by stimulus-contingent and response-independent food presentation. J Exp Anal Behav. 1973 Jan;19(1):65–72. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1973.19-65. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Halliday M. S., Boakes R. A. Behavioral contrast and response independent reinforcement. J Exp Anal Behav. 1971 Nov;16(3):429–434. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1971.16-429. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Hearst E., Besley S., Farthing G. W. Inhibition and the stimulus control of operant behavior. J Exp Anal Behav. 1970 Nov;14(3 Pt 2 Suppl):373–409. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1970.14-s373. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Pear J. J., Wilkie D. M. Contrast and induction in rats on multiple schedules. J Exp Anal Behav. 1971 May;15(3):289–296. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1971.15-289. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. REYNOLDS G. S. Behavioral contrast. J Exp Anal Behav. 1961 Jan;4:57–71. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1961.4-57. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. REYNOLDS G. S. Relativity of response rate and reinforcement frequency in a multiple schedule. J Exp Anal Behav. 1961 Apr;4:179–184. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1961.4-179. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Terrace H. S. Discrimination learning, the peak shift, and behavioral contrast. J Exp Anal Behav. 1968 Nov;11(6):727–741. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1968.11-727. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Williams D. R., Williams H. Auto-maintenance in the pigeon: sustained pecking despite contingent non-reinforcement. J Exp Anal Behav. 1969 Jul;12(4):511–520. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1969.12-511. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior are provided here courtesy of Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior

RESOURCES