Skip to main content
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior logoLink to Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
. 1968 Sep;11(5):609–616. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1968.11-609

Fixed-ratio punishment by timeout of concurrent variable-interval behavior1

John R Thomas
PMCID: PMC1338535  PMID: 5722426

Abstract

Pigeons' responding was maintained by two concurrently available variable-interval reinforcement schedules. A fixed-ratio punishment schedule of timeout periods from the concurrent reinforcement schedules was arranged for responding during one of the variable-interval schedules. The greater the probability of a timeout after a response on the punished variable-interval schedule (the smaller the fixed ratio that produced timeout), the greater the decline in the relative punished response rates. Relative reinforcement rates remained invariant when relative response rates declined. Both behavioral contrast and induction effects were observed on the unpunished variable-interval schedule as a function of timeout punishment of the other schedule.

Full text

PDF
609

Selected References

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

  1. AZRIN N. H., HOLZ W. C., HAKE D. F. Fixed-ratio punishment. J Exp Anal Behav. 1963 Apr;6:141–148. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1963.6-141. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BAER D. M. Effect of withdrawal of positive reinforcement on an extinguishing response in young children. Child Dev. 1961 Mar;32:67–74. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.1961.tb05004.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. 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]
  4. CATANIA A. C. Concurrent performances: reinforcement interaction and response independence. J Exp Anal Behav. 1963 Apr;6:253–263. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1963.6-253. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. FERSTER C. B., APPEL J. B., HISS R. A. The effect of drugs on a fixed-ratio performance suppressed by a pre-time-out stimulus. J Exp Anal Behav. 1962 Jan;5:73–88. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1962.5-73. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. FERSTER C. B., APPEL J. B. Punishment of S delta responding in matching to sample by time out from positive reinforcement. J Exp Anal Behav. 1961 Jan;4:45–56. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1961.4-45. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. FERSTER C. B. Suppression of a performance under differential reinforcement of low rates by a pre-time-out stimulus. J Exp Anal Behav. 1960 Apr;3:143–153. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1960.3-143. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. FERSTER C. B. Withdrawal of positive reinforcement as punishment. Science. 1957 Sep 13;126(3272):509–509. doi: 10.1126/science.126.3272.509. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Findley J. D. Preference and Switching under Concurrent Scheduling. J Exp Anal Behav. 1958 Apr;1(2):123–144. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1958.1-123. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. HERMAN R. L., AZRIN N. H. PUNISHMENT BY NOISE IN AN ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE SITUATION. J Exp Anal Behav. 1964 Mar;7:185–188. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1964.7-185. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. HOLZ W. C., AZRIN N. H., AYLLON T. Elimination of behavior of mental patients by response-produced extinction. J Exp Anal Behav. 1963 Jul;6:407–412. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1963.6-407. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. McMillan D. E. A comparison of the punishing effects of response-produced shock and response-produced time out. J Exp Anal Behav. 1967 Sep;10(5):439–449. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1967.10-439. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Miller N. B., Zimmerman J. The effects of a pre-time-out stimulus on matching-to-sample of humans. J Exp Anal Behav. 1966 Sep;9(5):487–499. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1966.9-487. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Reynolds G. S. Potency of Conditioned Reinforcers Based on Food and on Food and Punishment. Science. 1963 Mar 1;139(3557):838–839. doi: 10.1126/science.139.3557.838. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. THOMAS J. R. DISCRIMINATED TIME-OUT AVOIDANCE IN PIGEONS. J Exp Anal Behav. 1965 Sep;8:329–338. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1965.8-329. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. ZIMMERMAN J., BAYDAN N. T. PUNISHMENT OF S-DELTA RESPONDING OF HUMANS IN CONDITIONAL MATCHING TO SAMPLE BY TIME-OUT. J Exp Anal Behav. 1963 Oct;6:589–597. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1963.6-589. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. ZIMMERMAN J., FERSTER C. B. Intermittent punishment of Sdelta responding in matching to sample. J Exp Anal Behav. 1963 Jul;6:349–356. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1963.6-349. [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