Title :

Preference for 50% reinforcement over 75% reinforcement by pigeons.

Author(s) :

Gipson, Cassandra D [Auteur]
University of Kentucky [UK]
Alessandri, Jerome [Auteur]
Unité de Recherche en Sciences Cognitives et Affectives [URECA]
Miller, Holly C [Auteur]
University of Kentucky [UK]
Zentall, Thomas R [Auteur]
University of Kentucky [UK]

Journal title :

Learning & Behavior

Abbreviated title :

Learn Behav

Volume number :

37

Pages :

289-98

Publication date :

2009-11-01

ISSN :

1543-4494

English keyword(s) :

Animals
Choice Behavior
Columbidae
Conditioning
Operant
Models
Psychological
Reinforcement Schedule
Reinforcement
Psychology

HAL domain(s) :

Sciences cognitives

English abstract : [en]

When pigeons are given a choice between an initial-link alternative that results in either a terminal-link stimulus correlated with 100% reinforcement or a stimulus correlated with 0% reinforcement (overall 50% reinforcement) ...
Show more >When pigeons are given a choice between an initial-link alternative that results in either a terminal-link stimulus correlated with 100% reinforcement or a stimulus correlated with 0% reinforcement (overall 50% reinforcement) and another initial-link alternative that always results in a terminal-link stimulus correlated with 100% reinforcement, some pigeons show a preference for the initial-link alternative correlated with 50% reinforcement. Using this procedure, in Experiment 1, we found a relatively modest preference for 100% over 50% reinforcement. In Experiment 2, we decreased the reinforcement density for the second initial-link alternative to 75% and found a significant preference for the 50% reinforcement initial-link alternative. It may be that this "maladaptive" behavior results from a positive contrast between the expectation of reinforcement correlated with the 50% reinforcement initial-link alternative and the terminal-link stimulus correlated with 100% reinforcement. But apparently, the complementary negative contrast does not develop between the expectation of reinforcement correlated with the 50% reinforcement initial-link alternative and the terminal-link stimulus correlated with 0% reinforcement that often follow. Such paradoxical choice may account for certain human appetitive risk-taking behavior (e.g., gambling) as well.Show less >

Language :

Anglais

Audience :

Non spécifiée

Administrative institution(s) :

Université de Lille
CNRS
CHU Lille

Collections :

• Autres travaux scientifiques

Submission date :

2020-03-27T13:11:54Z
2020-03-31T08:38:49Z
2020-04-02T09:40:11Z
2020-04-06T11:53:30Z