Covert negative reinforcement: An experimental test

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1972

Abstract

Ss in the experimental group were asked to imagine an idiosyncratic noxious scene the cessation of which would be contingent upon imagining a neutral stimulus (a ringing bell). This was repeated 30 times. A second group was asked to imagine noxious and neutral scenes in an unpaired manner. A third group received no imagery training. In the experimental test phase, all Ss were asked to estimate the size of circles to establish a baseline. With Groups 1 and 2, E said the word "bell" when the Ss either overestimated (during the over-estimation condition) or underestimated (during the under-estimation condition) the size of the circles. Deviation of the estimates of circle size was influenced by use of the word "bell" in Group 1 only supporting the covert negative reinforcement hypothesis. © 1972.

Publication Title

Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry

Volume

3

Issue

1

First Page

1

Last Page

5

Comments

This article was published in Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, Volume 3, Issue 1, Pages 1-5.

The published version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0005-7916(72)90026-2.

Copyright © 1972 Scopus.

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