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Related Experiment Videos

Superstitious responding and reinforcement rate under concurrent variable-interval extinction schedules.

A H. Doughty1, T A. Shahan, K A. Lattal

  • 1Department of Psychology, PO Box 6040, West Virginia University, 26506-6040, Morgantown, WV, USA

Behavioural Processes
|May 4, 2001
PubMed
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This study investigated superstitious responding in pigeons using concurrent variable-interval schedules. Pigeons continued key pecking during extinction when reinforcement rates were higher, demonstrating a method to study superstitious behavior.

Area of Science:

  • Behavioral psychology
  • Animal behavior
  • Operant conditioning

Background:

  • Superstitious responding, often characterized as ritualistic behaviors, can emerge through operant conditioning processes.
  • Understanding the mechanisms behind superstitious behavior is crucial for various fields, including animal training and clinical psychology.
  • Previous research has explored factors influencing superstitious behavior, but the role of reinforcement rate during extinction requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine superstitious responding in pigeons under specific operant conditioning schedules.
  • To investigate how the rate of reinforcement influences key-peck responding during extinction phases.
  • To demonstrate the utility of concurrent variable-interval extinction schedules in studying superstitious behavior.

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Main Methods:

  • Four pigeons were trained on multiple concurrent variable-interval schedules of reinforcement.
  • The schedules involved varying intervals (45s, 90s, 180s) without a changeover delay.
  • Two variable-interval 90s schedules were subsequently replaced with extinction conditions to observe responding.

Main Results:

  • Initially, extinction-key responding was maintained at higher levels when associated with a higher reinforcement rate.
  • This effect diminished or reversed with prolonged exposure to extinction conditions.
  • While extinction responding generally decreased, it persisted for extended periods (30-45 sessions) in some pigeons.

Conclusions:

  • Concurrent variable-interval extinction schedules provide a viable method for studying superstitious responding.
  • The rate of prior reinforcement significantly influences the maintenance of superstitious behaviors during extinction.
  • These findings contribute to understanding the persistence of non-reinforced behaviors in operant conditioning paradigms.