Relative persistence of avoidance and positively reinforced behavior

In one experiment with rats, and a second with pigeons, subjects were trained on a schedule in which identical response dependencies applied to intermittent receipt of positive reinforcement (PR) for one group and avoidance (AV) of shock for a second group. After obtaining comparable stable training performance for groups PR and AV, persistence tests were conducted with a traditional extinction (EXT) procedure vs. response-independent (FREE) delivery of positive reinforcers or shocks. In both experiments, response elimination was rapid in EXT for groups PR and AV, and responding tended to be maintained in groups PR and AV in the FREE persistence test. These results contradict the widely held assumption that avoidance behavior is unusually resistant to extinction, and they call for a re-examination of elimination of avoidance responding.     

Stimulus control of responding in the early trials of differential conditioning

In Experiment 1 two groups of rats were given 12 differential conditioning trials, seven to the rewarded alley (S+) and five to the nonrewarded alley (S?), prior to being extinguished in both alleys. Group S?S+ received S+ trials, following S? trials in acquisition, while Group S+S? did not receive S+ trials following S? trials in acquisition. In extinction S+ and S? trials were presented according to a quasi-random sequence for both groups. Running on the last 3 trials of acquisition was found to be faster following S+ than following S? trials. Group S?S+ showed greater resistance to extinction and less discriminative responding in extinction than Group S+S?. These results suggest that responding in differential conditioning is controlled not merely by S+ and S? but by the memories of reward (S^R) and of nonreward (S^N) as well. When the joint effects of both classes of cues were considered, e.g., S^R+S+, responding in the early trials of differential conditioning was shown to be highly orderly. Experiment 2 was highly similar to Experiment 1 except that Groups S?S+ and S+S? were equated along dimensions not equated in Experiment 1. The results obtained in Experiment 2 were highly similar to those obtained in Experiment 1.     

Locus of control,perceived responsibility for prior fate,and helping behavior

One-hundred-and-sixty adolescents participated in two studies designed to investigate the relationship between $\text{I}\text{E}$ and helping behavior as mediated by the perceived cause of another's need. In the first study, Ss were given the opportunity to help, either “indirectly” or “directly,” a supervisor who had been over- or underpaid in a prior similar task. Internals helped more in the “direct” help than the “indirect” help conditions but their helping behavior and their perceptions of their supervisors were not consistent. The perceptions of the externals were relatively consistent with their greater help of the “overpaid” supervisor. In study 2, the Ss were given additional information to increase the possibility of their making causal attributions as a function of the supervisor's prior fate. Once again, the external subjects' helping behavior reflected their perception of their supervisor's merit. The internal subjects exhibited relatively little helping behavior regardless of their supervisors' prior fate or perceived competence.     

The statistical interaction of cerebral specialization and integration in the interpretation of dynamic brain images

Two constructs of brain function, namely cerebral specialization and integration, have been examined in the analysis of blood flow and metabolic function resulting from dynamic imaging procedures. The purpose of the current paper is to illustrate the interaction of these two constructs at the statistical level. Because of the statistical interaction, it is argued that the currently accepted statistical evidence for cerebral specialization is, in fact, partially a function of the degree of regional cerebral integration. Therefore, found asymmetries of flow or rate may be solely a function of cerebral integration. These points are discussed with respect to developing a better understanding of stimulus/brain/behavior relations.     

Allocentric versus idiocentric tendencies: Convergent and discriminant validation

Allocentric tendencies were studied with a multimethod questionnaire and Illinois undergraduates. Nine scales measuring different aspects of allocentrism were shown to have good reliability and to be intercorrelated, thus showing convergent validity. Factor analysis identified three aspects: subordination of personal to group goals, the ingroup as extension of the self, and ingroup identity. The scales also had satisfactory discriminant validity. Those high on idiocentric tendencies used equity and those high in allocentric tendencies used equality and need in distributing rewards. A second study found that those who are allocentric are more likely to emphasize the values of cooperation, equality, and honesty, and those who are idiocentric to emphasize the values of comfortable life, competition, pleasure, and social recognition. Those who were allocentric reported receiving more social support and a better quality of social support; those who were idiocentric were higher in achievement motivation, alienation, anomie, and reported greater loneliness.