Semester
Fall
Date of Graduation
2018
Degree Type
BA
College
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Psychology
Committee Chair
Michael Perone
Committee Co-Chair
Kathryn Kestner
Committee Member
Cory Whirtley
Committee Member
Forrest Toegel
Abstract
The purpose of the present experiment was to examine effects of the rate of reinforcement on the punitive function of shock for 4 rats. In baseline conditions, rats’ lever presses were reinforced with food according to a VI schedule. During punishment conditions, a VR-5 schedule of shock punishment was superimposed on the VI schedule. Across pairs of baseline and punishment conditions, the rate of reinforcement ranged from 0.5 to 6 food deliveries per min. Response rates during the baseline and punishment conditions generally increased as the reinforcement rate was raised for two out of four rats. For three rats, suppression ratios decreased as the rate of reinforcement increased. In general, shock became less punitive as the rate of reinforcement was raised.
Recommended Citation
Bello, Vincent A., "The Punitive Effect of Electric Shock in Rats in Relation to the Rate of Food Reinforcement" (2018). Capstones and Honors Theses. 2.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/cap_theses/2