Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior logoLink to Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
. 1962 Jan;5(1):19–31. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1962.5-19

Concurrent generalization gradients for food-controlled and shock-controlied behavior

Eliot Hearst
PMCID: PMC1404178  PMID: 13905772

Abstract

In the presence of a bright light, monkeys were trained to press a lever to avoid shock and to pull a chain for food reward. After gradients of generalization to other light intensities had been determined for each response, gradients were subsequently secured after training in a brightness discrimination and under several free-shock conditions. The following results were obtained: (1) Generalization gradients prior to discrimination training were much steeper for the food-controlled response than for the shock-controlled response. This finding was confirmed in another study in which rats served as subjects. (2) After discrimination training, both gradients became much steeper, but the avoidance gradient still showed more generalized responding than that of reward. (3) After a period of continuous testing with all the different test intensities, the two gradients became even steeper. In addition, differences between the two gradients virtually disappeared. (4) The intermittent delivery of free shocks during a previously non-shocked light intensity radically affected the shape of the avoidance gradient, just as the addition of an avoidance contingency did during the same, previously non-shocked, light intensity.

Full text

PDF
19

Selected References

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

  1. APPEL J. B. Some schedules involving aversive control. J Exp Anal Behav. 1960 Oct;3:349–359. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1960.3-349. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Appel J. B. The Aversive Control of an Operant Discrimination. J Exp Anal Behav. 1960 Jan;3(1):35–47. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1960.3-35. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. BRADY J. V. Animal experimental evaluation of drug effects upon behavior. Res Publ Assoc Res Nerv Ment Dis. 1959;37:104–125. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. HANSON H. M. Effects of discrimination training on stimulus generalization. J Exp Psychol. 1959 Nov;58:321–334. doi: 10.1037/h0042606. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. HEARST E., BEER B., SHEATZ G., GALAMBOS R. Some electrophysiological correlates of conditioning in the monkey. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1960 Feb;12:137–152. doi: 10.1016/0013-4694(60)90067-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. HEARST E. Simultaneous generalization gradients for appetitive and aversive behavior. Science. 1960 Dec 9;132(3441):1769–1770. doi: 10.1126/science.132.3441.1769. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. JENKINS W. O., PASCAL G. R., WALKER R. W., Jr Deprivation and generalization. J Exp Psychol. 1958 Sep;56(3):274–277. doi: 10.1037/h0043850. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. MURRAY E. J., MILLER N. E. Displacement: steeper gradient of generalization of avoidance than of approach with age of habit controlled. J Exp Psychol. 1952 Mar;43(3):222–226. doi: 10.1037/h0062579. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. PIERREL R., SHERMAN J. G. Generalization of auditory intensity following discrimination training. J Exp Anal Behav. 1960 Oct;3:313–322. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1960.3-313. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. ROSENBAUM G. Stimulus generalization as a function of level of experimentally induced anxiety. J Exp Psychol. 1953 Jan;45(1):35–43. doi: 10.1037/h0054120. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. SIDMAN M. Avoidance conditioning with brief shock and no exteroceptive warning signal. Science. 1953 Aug 7;118(3058):157–158. doi: 10.1126/science.118.3058.157. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. SIDMAN M., HERRNSTEIN R. J., CONRAD D. G. Maintenance of avoidance behavior by unavoidable shocks. J Comp Physiol Psychol. 1957 Dec;50(6):553–557. doi: 10.1037/h0043500. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Sidman M. By-products of aversive control. J Exp Anal Behav. 1958 Aug;1(3):265–280. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1958.1-265. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Sidman M. Some Notes on "Bursts" in Free-operant Avoidance Experiments. J Exp Anal Behav. 1958 Apr;1(2):167–172. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1958.1-167. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Sidman M. Stimulus generalization in an avoidance situation. J Exp Anal Behav. 1961 Apr;4(2):157–169. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1961.4-157. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. THOMAS D. R., KING R. A. Stimulus generalization as a function of level of motivation. J Exp Psychol. 1959 May;57(5):323–328. doi: 10.1037/h0042183. [DOI] [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