Avoidance (Psychology)

According to the cardiac-somatic hypothesis, heart rate
changes are a function of changes in somatic activity. Conversely,
the Independent Response Theory states that conditioning
of heart rate and somatic activities are independent
of each other. Using two groups, the present study examined
these conflicting theories by measuring changes in heart
rate and bar press suppression during 10 days of CER and
passive avoidance conditioning. Results of this study
indicate that heart rate responses and bar press suppression
conditioned independently of each other, during both CS and
post CS periods. Further, while bar pressing suppressed
rapidly in both groups, heart rate responses were different
between the two groups suggesting that although both
procedures conditioned the same behavioral results, they
elicit different autonomic responses.

Parametric manipulation of Sidman avoidance
produced different kinds of performances in subjects,
which were tested while under amphetamine treatment.
The results were found to be incompatible with the
principles of the stimulus control theory of Weiss
and Laties as well as other general and particular
explanations of the drug's effect. An explanation was
suggested in terms of general arousal and individual
differences.

Twenty-four rats were trained to avoid shock in a shuttlebox,
receiving feedback for a correct response. During extinction,
matched pairs were tested under response contingent or
response independent feedback, with either shock or no shock. The combination of response contingent feedback and no shock
led to the greatest resistance to extinction. No other significant
differences were found. The results were used to support
the discrimination hypothesis, and concurred with other studies
with regard to: (1) the functional similarity of feedback and
CS termination in the acquisition and maintenance of avoidance,
and (2) the importance of the interaction of the response contingency
with the avoidance contingency, in determining the
effects on avoidance responding.

Thirty-six rats were used to study the effects of
manipulating both the density and response contingency of
feedback during the extinction (OE) of discriminated shuttle-box
avoidance. Three operant groups had the opportunity to
receive response-produced feedback on either 100, 60, or
30 per cent of the extinction trials. Three yoked groups
received the' same number and pattern of feedback stimuli
as the operant groups, but independently of their own behavior.
Significant ordering was obtained between all operant and
all yoked groups, and between operant and yoked groups at
all three feedback percentage levels. An ordering trend was
obtained for the feedback percentage dimension, which was,
however, not significant. The results, however, clearly
supported the discrimination hypothesis and upheld the
importance of response produced stimulus change in the
maintenance of avoidance behavior.

Eighteen rats were used to study two procedures for the
extinction of discriminated avoidance. One group (OE) was
placed on extinction defined by presenting shocks as programmed
but independently of the S's responses, while the other group
(CE) was placed on classical extinction defined by the removal
of all shocks. The two procedures were compared in terms of
rate of decline and terminal level of extinction performance.
In addition, the two groups were placed on a discrimination
reversal task in order to assess each procedure's effects on
a new learning problem. The CE group reached a lower level of
extinction performance in a fewer number of blocks than the
OE Ss. Furthermore, the CE Ss were inferior to the OE Ss in
terms of discrimination reversal performance as well.
An interpretation of the results in terms of the removal
and reinstatement of cues was offered although an alternative
explanation relating to a change in the motivational states
of the two groups during extinction was also presented. The
interpretation in terms of the presence or absence of cues
seemed to account for more of the present findings than the
traditional one advocating changes in motivational levels
resulting from the two divergent extinction operations.