Ch. 10: Aversive Control: Avoidance and Punishment

A source of motivation for instrumental behavior caused by the presentation of a stimulus that was previously conditioned with a primary, or unconditioned, reinforcer.

An instrumental conditioning procedure in which the participant's behavior prevents the delivery of an aversive stimulus.

A trial in a discriminated avoidance procedure in which an avoidance response is made and prevents the delivery of the aversive stimulus.

An avoidance conditioning procedure in which occurrences of the aversive stimulus are signaled by a conditioned stimulus. Responding during the conditioned stimulus terminates the CS and prevents the delivery of the aversive unconditioned stimulus. Also called signaled avoidance.

A procedure in which responding is punished in the presence of a particular stimulus and not punished in the absence of that stimulus.

A trial during discriminated avoidance training in which the required avoidance response is not made and the aversive unconditioned stimulus is presented. Performance of the instrumental response during the aversive stimulus results in termination of the aversive stimulus. Thus, the organism is able to escape from the aversive stimulus.

Situation in which subjects can learn an instrumental response to escape from or terminate a stimulus that elicits fear. Escape from fear provides a coping mechanism for individuals sufering from excessive fear.

A procedure for extinguishing avoidance behavior in which the conditioned stimulus is presented while the participant is prevented from making the avoidance response.

An avoidance conditioning procedure in which occurrences of the aversive stimulus are not signaled by an external stimulus. In the absense of avoidance responding, the aversive stimulus is presented periodically, as set by the S-S interval. Each occurrence of the avoidance response creates (or resets) a period of safety determined by the S-R interval during which the aversive stimulus is not presented. Also called nondiscriminated avoidance.

An avoidance conditioning procedure in which occurrences of the aversive stimulus are not signaled by an external stimulus. In the absence of avoidance responding, the aversive stimulus is presented periodically, as set by the S-S interval. Each occurrence of the avoidance response creates (or resets) a period of sagety determined by the S-R interval during which the aversive stimulus is not presented. Also called free-operant avoidance; originally called Sidman avoidance.

A procedure for discouraging behavior in which the participant is not only required to correct or rectify a mistake but is also required to go beyond that by, for example, extensively practicing the correct response alternative.

The perceived likelihood of being attacked by a predator. Different species typical defense responses occur in the face of different degrees of predatory imminence.

An instrumental conditioning procedure in which there is a positive contingency between the instrumental response and an aversive stimulus. If the participant performs the instrumental response, it receives the aversive stimulus; if the participant does not perform the instrumental response, it does not recieve the aversive stimulus.

The interval between the occurrence of an avoidance response and the next scheduled presentation of the aversive stimulus in a nondiscriminated avoidance procedure. Thus, the R-S interval sets the duration of safety created by each avoidance response in a nondiscriminated avoidance procedure.

Blocking the opporunity to make the avoidance response so that the subject is exposed to a fear stimulus without being able to escape from it. Usually used in connection with flooding.