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Updated: Aug 7, 2026
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Investigating Pain-Related Avoidance Behavior using a Robotic Arm-Reaching Paradigm
Published on: October 3, 2020
Chained schedules of avoidance: Reinforcement within and by avoidance situations
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|November 1, 1979
Summary
Rats in a chained schedule experiment showed increased responding in the terminal link with higher shock rates. However, initial link responding decreased as actual shock rates in the terminal link rose, unlike positive reinforcement schedules.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Animal Behavior
- Aversive Control
Background:
- Chained schedules are used to study complex behavior sequences.
- Aversive control involves using unpleasant stimuli to modify behavior.
- Understanding how animals respond to varying levels of shock is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate rat behavior under chained schedules with variable-cycle avoidance.
- To examine the effect of scheduled and received shock rates on response rates.
- To compare findings with those from positive reinforcement schedules.
Main Methods:
- Four rats were trained on a chained schedule with avoidance of shocks.
- The initial link canceled shocks and led to a terminal link with variable shock rates.
- Response rates were recorded in both links across different shock conditions.
Main Results:
- Response rates in the terminal link increased with higher scheduled shock rates.
- Response rates in the initial link decreased as actual received shock rates increased.
- Unlike positive reinforcement, increased shock in the terminal link did not enhance its reinforcing value.
Conclusions:
- Behavior under aversive control in chained schedules differs from positive reinforcement.
- The actual shock experienced, not just the scheduled shock, influences behavior in the initial link.
- Findings contribute to understanding the complexities of aversive control in operant conditioning.
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