Some factors related to pseudo-conditioning.

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Abstract
The present expt. was undertaken to determine whether the Pavlovian principle of stimulus generalization could be contributing to the phenomenon of pseudo-conditioning. Four exptl. situations were set up in such a way that in two situations there was opportunity for generalization to operate, and in two situations there was little or no opportunity for its operation. White rats escaped shock by running from one to the other end of a partitioned box when the grid underfoot was electrified. Following 35 shocks alone a light was flashed on in the occupied compartment. Pseudo-conditioning consisted of leaving the compartment in response to the light stimulus. Four groups of rats were used. For one, the shock occurred suddenly and the light occurred suddenly; for the 2d, both shock and light built up gradually; for the 3d, the shock was sudden and the light gradual; for the 4th, the shock was gradual and the light sudden. The results show a high degree of pseudo-conditioning in the first 2 groups, and almost none in the last 2 groups. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that pseudo-conditioning may be akin to Pavlovian stimulus generalization, and is not in accord with the hypothesis that pseudo-conditioning arises from an attitude of expectancy.

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