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Multiple Schedules of Escape and Their Effects on Avoidance

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Abstract

Four rats were trained to escape electric shock by satisfying various negative reinforcement schedules. The schedules employed included continuous escape, fixed interval (FI), differential reinforcement of low rate (DRL), differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO), and tandem fixed interval differential reinforcement of high rate 4 escape (tandem FI DRH 4 escape). Various combinations of these escape schedules, accompanied by discrete auditory and visual cues were alternated at 10-min intervals in a multiple schedule format. Each escape schedule was linked with a 20-sec avoidance component (R-S = 20 sec), in which responses prevented the occurrence of escape periods. In general, all rats produced the high or low escape rates expected from the escape schedules employed. The data produced during the shock off intervals revealed that avoidance was higher in conjunction with the fixed interval and DRL escape schedules relative to the avoidance produced when the continuous and DRO escape schedules were employed. The differential escape rates, in conjunction with the differential avoidance performances, indicated evidence of stimulus control by the various cues associated with the various escape-avoidance components employed.

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  1. Department of Psychology, Ferris State College, Big Rapids, MI, 49307, USA

    Richard Pisacreta

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Pisacreta, R. Multiple Schedules of Escape and Their Effects on Avoidance. Psychol Rec 31, 237–253 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03394737

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