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Positive behavioral contrast when pigeons press treadles during multiple schedules
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|January 1, 1983
Summary
Pigeons showed increased responding on a variable-interval schedule when paired with extinction, a phenomenon known as positive behavioral contrast. This finding challenges previous research and existing behavioral contrast theories.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral psychology
- Animal behavior studies
- Operant conditioning
Background:
- Behavioral contrast is a phenomenon where the rate of responding on one schedule changes when the schedule is changed to another.
- Previous studies on pigeons using treadle presses for food reinforcers failed to demonstrate positive behavioral contrast.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the occurrence of positive behavioral contrast in pigeons under specific reinforcement schedules.
- To examine whether positive contrast is observed when a variable-interval schedule is contrasted with an extinction schedule.
Main Methods:
- Pigeons were exposed to multiple schedules of reinforcement.
- Schedules included multiple variable-interval 15-second (mult VI 15s) and multiple variable-interval 15-second extinction (mult VI 15s-EXT) conditions.
- Treadle presses served as the response, and food was the reinforcer.
Main Results:
- Positive behavioral contrast was observed.
- Response rates were higher during the VI 15s component when it was paired with extinction compared to when paired with another VI 15s schedule.
- These results contradict prior research findings.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates positive behavioral contrast in pigeons under a VI 15s schedule contrasted with extinction.
- The findings challenge existing theories of behavioral contrast, particularly additive theories.
- Further research may be needed to refine or develop new theoretical models of behavioral contrast.