Abstract
In an experiment for classical conditioning of GSR responses, Ss received CS-UCS pairs (light and 105-dB tones), which were scattered among context stimuli (tones) of either higher (120 dB) or lower (95 dB) intensity compared with that of the UCS. Systematically varied context stimuli were also presented to control groups (no CS-UCS pairing). The results show distinct contextual effects not only for UCR but also for CR. They favor an adaptation-level theory interpretation as opposed to a theory of sensitization. The effects of context stimuli on conditionability support a hypothesis based on relative arousal effects as opposed to the “global” arousal theory, which concerns speed of conditioning.
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References
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This experiment was carried out during a British Council bursary at the Institute of Psychiatry in London. The author thanks Dr. Eysenck, Dr. Martin, and Mr. Law for their help.
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Butollo, W.H. Stimulus relations in classical GSR conditioning. Psychon Sci 23, 401–403 (1971). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03332637
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03332637