The Effects of Observing Subject-Inflicted Aggression upon Subject's Aggressive Responding.
Abstract
Two male college students received nickels on a VI (variable-interval) reinforcement schedule for button pressing. Aggression was assessed through response rate changes during periods when responding concurrently with and independently of procuring reinforcement delivered aversive stimulation (foot shock) to an uninvolved organism (a rat) as compared to periods when button pressing did not deliver aversive stimulation. The occurrence of shock periods was randomized through an interval tape, and were signaled to the subject by rat-chamber illumination. The rat chamber was located at eye-level to the subject, and the behavior of the rat was clearly observable throughout the experiment. With some exceptions, button pressing rates were lower during shock than no-shock periods. Discontinuation of shock brought rate of responding during light-on periods close to that during light-off. Extinction brought rate of responding during shock-on periods close to that during no-shock periods. Increasing the intensity of shock increased suppression of responding during shock periods. (Modified author abstract)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0767458
Entities
People
- Brigette Symannek
- Lynn Peters
- Roger Ulrich
- Sylvia Dulaney
Organizations
- Western Michigan University