Aggression during the fixed-ratio and extinction components of a multiple schedule of reinforcement

Pigeons were trained to key peck for food on multiple reinforcement schedules including components of continuous and fixed-ratio reinforcement and extinction. At the end of the chamber opposite the response key was a restrained target pigeon. The target restraining equipment was designed to record automatically blows struck against the target. When the experimental pigeons were paired with restrained target pigeons they attacked the target. Attack occurred during extinction after both continuous and fixed-ratio reinforcement. Attack also occurred occasionally during fixed-ratio 25 and fixed-ratio 40 and frequently during fixed-ratio 60 and fixed-ratio 120. No attack occurred during fixed-ratio 15 and continuous reinforcement. After a history of stable responding without a target bird present, the introduction of a target bird resulted in severely strained key-peck responding characterized by long periods of neither key pecking nor aggressing.