The blocking of reinforcement control.

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Psychology
• Learning Theory
• Experimental Analysis of Behavior

Background:

• The blocking effect traditionally demonstrates how prior learning can prevent new associations.
• Its extension to reinforcement processes requires further empirical investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if the blocking effect influences response reinforcement.
• To examine the role of interpolated responses during delayed reinforcement.

Main Methods:

• Two experiments utilized delayed reinforcement contingencies.
• Subjects were exposed to conditions with or without a pretrained interpolated response during the delay interval.

Main Results:

• The presence of an interpolated response, despite no scheduled effect on reinforcement, reduced the strengthening of the initial response.
• Complete extinction of the initial response occurred in some subjects under the interpolated response condition.

Conclusions:

• Findings support the blocking effect as a fundamental principle applicable to response reinforcement.
• Results challenge reinforcement theories based solely on temporal proximity between response and reinforcer.