title: Preference for 50% reinforcement over 75% reinforcement by pigeons.
abstract: When pigeons are given a choice between an initial-link alternative that results in either a terminal-link stimulus correlated with 100% reinforcement or a stimulus correlated with 0% reinforcement (overall 50% reinforcement) and another initial-link alternative that always results in a terminal-link stimulus correlated with 100% reinforcement, some pigeons show a preference for the initial-link alternative correlated with 50% reinforcement. Using this procedure, in Experiment 1, we found a relatively modest preference for 100% over 50% reinforcement. In Experiment 2, we decreased the reinforcement density for the second initial-link alternative to 75% and found a significant preference for the 50% reinforcement initial-link alternative. It may be that this "maladaptive" behavior results from a positive contrast between the expectation of reinforcement correlated with the 50% reinforcement initial-link alternative and the terminal-link stimulus correlated with 100% reinforcement. But apparently, the complementary negative contrast does not develop between the expectation of reinforcement correlated with the 50% reinforcement initial-link alternative and the terminal-link stimulus correlated with 0% reinforcement that often follow. Such paradoxical choice may account for certain human appetitive risk-taking behavior (e.g., gambling) as well.
authors.affiliation: University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0044, USA.
authors.forename: Cassandra D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Gipson
authors.forename: Jérôme J D
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Alessandri
authors.forename: Holly C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Zentall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002755:Choice Behavior; D010856:Columbidae; D003216:Conditioning, Operant; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology