EFFECTS OF RATIO CONTINGENCIES ON RESPONDING MAINTAINED BY SCHEDULES OF ELECTRIC-SHOCK PRESENTATION (RESPONSE-PRODUCED SHOCK)

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Abstract
Squirrel monkeys' lever pressing was established under fixed‐interval schedules of electric‐shock presentation (response‐produced shock). After appropriate temporal patterns of lever pressing were engendered, either fixed‐ratio schedules of shock presentation were added to the fixed interval, or yoked variable‐ratio schedules were substituted for the fixed‐interval schedules. When fixed‐ratio schedules were added, there was an initial rise in response rate and schedule‐appropriate patterns of responding developed. After many sessions, however, responding ceased abruptly, in some cases with remarkable quickness. When variable‐ratio schedules were substituted, responded declined gradually and eventually was poorly maintained. Ratio contingencies may not support responding as well as interval contingencies when electric shock is the maintaining event.