Abstract
Preference for predictable vs. controllable shock was assessed through use of a symmetrical changeover procedure. Rats chose between a predictable/uncontrollable situation (CER) and an unpredictable/controllable situation (VI punishment). Consistent preference for the CER situation was found, with animals spending most of their time in that component. It was suggested that control over aversive contingencies, in the absence of predictable feedback regarding safety, is less preferable to a situation in which periods of shock and safety are well-defined.
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Scheuer, C., Greenberg, M.S. Preference for predictable vs. controllable shock. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 19, 307–310 (1982). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03330266
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03330266