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Vicious-Circle Behavior in the Shuttlebox

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Abstract

A series of experiments was conducted on vicious-circle phenomena with rats in a shuttlebox. After an avoidance criterion was reached, shock in the middle third of the box prolonged responding relative to regular extinction for the majority of rats but resulted in inhibition for a minority. Continuous versus discontinuous shock and a 13.5-sec. versus a 37.5-sec. intertrial interval had no significant effects on the phenomenon.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, 60115, USA

    Randall B. Martin

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  1. Randall B. Martin
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Martin, R.B. Vicious-Circle Behavior in the Shuttlebox. Psychol Rec 28, 455–462 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03394557

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03394557

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