Citation

Goldstein JH, Davis RW, Herman D. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 1975; 31(1): 162-170.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1975, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/h0076241

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A finding commonly obtained in research using the Buss "aggression machine" is a main effect for trial blocks, indicating an escalation in shock intensity over trials. Theoretical explanations for this effect were tested in a modified verbal operant-conditioning situation. In Exp I 48 male undergraduates could administer any of 10 levels of positive reinforcement to a learner for correct verbal responses or any of 10 levels of negative reinforcement to a learner for incorrect responses. 24 Ss were required to begin with weak, and 24 with strong, reinforcements. Results indicate that, regardless of condition, Ss gave more intense reinforcements as the learning trials progressed. Those who administered negative reinforcements devalued the learner relative to those who administered positive reinforcements. In Exp II a role-playing procedure was used in which 44 undergraduates administered either positive or negative reinforcements to a learner whose performance either did or did not improve over trials. Again, in all experimental groups, Ss administered increasingly intense reinforcements over trials. Results support disinhibition theory of anti- and prosocial behavior. (39 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)