Alternative interpretations of the frustration effect.

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Investigated whether the frustration effect (FE), heightened responding following nonreward, would be as great if the reward for the response being measured was different from the reward withheld during the frustration condition. An operant analog of the Amsel "double alley" procedure was used. Exp. I, with 12 female Sprague-Dawley rats used food and shock-avoidance as reinforcements. Exp. II, with 30 4-6 yr. old Negro children used peanuts and plastic trinkets as reinforcements. 2 measures of operant behavior were used: latency to press, and pressing rate. Shorter latency of press followed nonrewarded as compared to rewarded trials in both experiments with both types of reinforcements. Increased pressing rates following nonrewarded as compared to rewarded trials occurred with both types of reinforcements only in Exp. I. In all instances, the FE was as great if the reward following the frustrated response was the same or different from the reward following the response being measured. Results support Amsel's frustrative nonreward theory, rather than a preparatory response approach. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: