title: Verbal reinforcement combinations in schizophrenics.
abstract: Investigated the effects of verbal reinforcement paradigms on hospitalized schizophrenics and staff. Positive reinforcement that involved good was found to be relatively ineffective for all groups; furthermore, associating good with the termination of a white noise did not increase its effectiveness for schizophrenics. Verbal punishment was more effective than verbal positive reinforcement for staff, but for schizophrenics only when explicit problem-solving instructions were given. The results suggest that the reduction of deficit is not more likely via verbal punishment; if anything, deficit is increased because of increased staff performance under verbal punishment.
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011678:Punishment; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012057:Reinforcement, Verbal; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology