Effects of reward and nonreward on frustration and attention in attention deficit disorder.
The effects of reward schedule (100%, 50%, and 30%) and termination of rewards (extinction) on 30 attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADD-H) and 30 normal children were studied using measures of frustration (speed/strength of lever pulling) and attention (reaction time to a light signal). ADD-Hs pulled harder on the lever than controls during extinction and on the lowest (30%) partial schedule, providing empirical evidence that they respond with greater frustration than normals when expected rewards fail to appear. The groups did not differ on the attentional measure on 100% reward. However, the partial schedules appeared to have an alerting or motivating effect on the controls, so that they responded more quickly and consistently than ADD-Hs on the partial schedules. Findings are discussed with reference to opposing theories regarding the nature of the abnormal response of ADD-Hs to reward.
Douglas
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Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Parry
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PA
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000523:psychology*; D001527:Behaviorism; D002648:Child; D004924:Escape Reaction; D005108:Extinction, Psychological; D005260:Female; D005639:Frustration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology