Abstract
Four rats were trained to stable performance on a schedule which reinforced only bar presses exceeding an inter-response time of ten sec. (DRL 10 sec). The trained animals, when performing in the presence of other animals, emitted responses having shorter inter-response times than when alone, and as a consequence received fewer reinforcements than when alone. These results are consistent with the theory that being in the presence of other organisms increases arousal, which in turn increases the probability that the dominant response will be emitted.
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References
Davis, H., & Wheeler, L. Social interaction on different schedules of reinforcement. Psychon. Sci., 1966, 4, 389–390.
Zajonc, R. B. Social facilitation. Science, 1965, 149, 269–274.
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1. From Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Navy Department, Research Task MF022,01.03-1002. The opinions and statements contained herein are the private ones of the writers and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Navy Department or the Naval Service at large.
2. We thank Ira Donenfeld for his skillful assistance.
3. The experiments reported herein were conducted according to the principles enunciated in “Guide for Laboratory Animal Facilities and Care” prepared by the Committee on the Guide for Laboratory Animal Resources, National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council.
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Wheeler, L., Davis, H. Social disruption of performance on a DRL schedule. Psychon Sci 7, 249–250 (1967). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03331100
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03331100