Abstract
Mouse-killing rats were allowed to pace their killing behavior by use of an operant response reinforced with mouse presentation. When tested after intervals of 1, 2, and 4 days without exposure to mice, the rats averaged more than 30 responses and kills before reaching a satiation criterion of ISmin without a response. In a 10-h session, during which responding was continuously reinforced, four rats killed 32–57 mice early in the session, then emitted occasional bursts of responses during the remainder of the session, obtaining and killing an average of 41 additional mice. These findings contradict a previous report that mouse killing by rats is easily satiated.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
BOLLES, R. C. Grooming behavior in the rat. Journal of Comparative & Physiological Psychology, 1960, 53, 306–310.
HINDE, R. A. Animal behavior. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1966.
HUSTON, J. P., DeSISTO, M. J., & MEYER, E. P. Frog-killing by rats as influenced by territorial variables. Paper presented at the meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Philadelphia, April 1969.
KARLI, P., VERGNES, M., & DIDIERGEORGES, F. Rat-mouse interspecific aggressive behavior and its manipulation by brain ablation and brain stimulation. In E. B. Sigg and S. Garattini (Eds.), Biology of aggressive behavior. Amsterdam: Excerpta Medica Foundation, 1969. Pp. 47–55.
KULKARNI, A. S. Satiation of instinctive mouse-killing by rats. The Psychological Record, 1968, 18, 385–388.
LEAF, R. C, LERNER, L., & HOROVITZ, Z. P. The role of the amygdala in the pharmacological and endocrinological manipulation of aggression. In E. B. Sigg and S. Garattini (Eds.), Biology of aggressive behavior. Amsterdam: Excerpta Medica Foundation, 1969. Pp. 120–131.
MYER, J. S. Stimulus control of mouse-killing rats. Journal of Comparative & Physiological Psychology, 1964, 58, 112–117.
MYER, J. S. Prior killing experience and the effects of punishment on the killing of mice by rats. Animal Behaviour, 1967, 15, 59–61.
MYER, J. S. Associative and temporal determinants of the facilitation and inhibition of attack by pain. Journal of Comparative & Physiological Psychology, 1968, 66, 17–21.
MYER, J. S., & BAENNINGER, R. Some effects of punishment and stress on mouse-killing by rats. Journal of Comparative & Physiological Psychology, 1966, 62, 292–297.
MYER, J. S., & WHITE, R. T. Aggressive motivation in the rat. Animal Behaviour, 1965, 13, 430–433.
Van Hemel, P. E. Aggression as an incentive: Operant behavior in the mouse-killing rat. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Johns Hopkins University, 1970.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported by Grant GB8041 from the National Science Foundation to James S. Myer.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Van Hemel, P.E., Myer, J.S. Satiation of mouse killing by rats in an operant situation. Psychon Sci 21, 129–130 (1970). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03331847
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03331847