Non-contingent positive and negative reinforcement schedules of superstitious behaviors.
The role of schedules of reinforcement on the development of superstitious conditioning was investigated in a college age population. Participants were randomly assigned to one of eight operant schedules and instructed to remove (escape), prevent and/or remove (avoidance and escape) or produce (positive) the appearance of a computer generated stimulus using a response pad. Results from the experiment indicate that concomitant (escape and avoidance) schedules of reinforcement are most effective in facilitating acquisition of superstitious behavior as measured by self-reports of participants.
Bloom
C M
CM
University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, IN, United States. cbloom@usi.edu
Venard
J
J
Harden
M
M
Seetharaman
S
S
D000328:Adult; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology*; D004924:Escape Reaction; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012653:Self Stimulation; D013483:Superstitions / Q000523:psychology*