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. 1965 May;8(3):171–180. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1965.8-171

The opportunity for aggression as an operant reinforcer during aversive stimulation1

N H Azrin, R R Hutchinson, R McLaughlin
PMCID: PMC1338385  PMID: 14302750

Abstract

Squirrel monkeys were provided with a chain-pulling response which produced an inanimate object that could be attacked. In the absence of pain-shock, little or no chain-pulling occurred. When pain-shocks were delivered, chain-pulling responses increased. The chain-pulling response was successively reinforced, extinguished, reinforced, and again extinguished by presenting or withdrawing the opportunity to attack as the reinforcing event. Aggression appears to be a distinctive motivational state which is produced by aversive stimulation and which can be used to condition and maintain new behavior.

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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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