AVERSIVE ASPECTS OF A FIXED‐INTERVAL SCHEDULE OF FOOD REINFORCEMENT1

Abstract
The key pecking of pigeons was reinforced according to a fixed‐interval schedule of reinforcement. The pigeons were also given the opportunity to attack a restrained target pigeon. The attack rates during the sessions of fixed‐interval reinforcement were higher than during the operant level sessions in four of the five pigeons. Most attack occurred during the post‐reinforcement pause in key pecking. It was suggested that a fixed‐interval schedule of positive reinforcement possesses aversive properties, the most aversive of which are located during the post‐reinforcement pause.

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