Abstract
20 profoundly mentally retarded children were tested in a “free-field” situation with an adult E providing social stimulation in accordance with a pre-determined role. The social activities included signaling, petting, play, passiveness, and withdrawal. The onset of these activities was contingent upon S‘s making a simple instrumental response. The results showed that specific forms of social stimulation provided by an adult E had definite and differential reinforcing effects. The order of preference for the social activities was as follows: signal, pet, play, passive, and withdraw.

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