Escape from a stimulus associated with both reward and punishment.

Abstract

Rats could terminate a stimulus associated with intermittent, response-independent rewards and shocks. Each S served as its own control and was tested on a variety of shock intensities. Stimulus termination rate was found to be directly related to shock intensity. Except at very high shock intensities Ss terminated the stimulus less frequently when both food and shock were possible than when only shock was possible. Variations in hunger drive also affected the frequency of stimulus termination. The present technique may prove useful as a relatively simple method for studying conflict behavior and secondary reinforcement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)