Factors related to delayed gratification (the ability to postpone self-rewards) were investigated by examining the effects of changing SE environments, loss of prediction & relative age on the ...ability of individuals to delay gratification. The res was conducted in the Out Island Bahamas by controlled comparison of data collected in communities that had, or had not, been exposed to ED. A test, consisting of 17 hyp'al choices between material items of a relatively low value that could be had in present time, & material items of far greater value that could be had in 1 yr's time, was admin'ed to 197 individuals in 3 communities which had been diff'ially exposed to development. The test was controlled for: (1) the N of items that were selected for delayed gratification; (2) the age of the S taking the test; (3) the sex of the S; & (4) the community in which the test was admin'ed. Statistical tests verified the initial hypothesis stating that ability to delay gratification would be eroded in the developmental environment (X2=79, p=<.001). Additional tests verified that both unexposed M's (X2=48, p=<.001) & unexposed F's (X2=32, p=<.001) could more successfully delay gratification than counterparts of the same ages in the exposed communities. On further analysis it was concluded that almost without exception, the response profiles of all categories of people in the exposed communities resembled the response profiles of old people in general (with reference to an inability to delay gratification) more than they resembled the response of the people of the unexposed community. It was asserted that nonpredictability in the econ environment (related to inflation, recession & unemployment) of the developing pop's produced a state of anxiety, a present-time orientation & an inability to delay gratification. In being unable to predict their future (econ) condition, the people of the developing communities shared one of the characteristics of older people in general & their similar gratification profiles were understandable. AA.
In 4 experiments with 13 male Charles River rats, electrodes implanted along the medial forebrain bundle were screened for self-stimulation and stimulation-induced analgesia. Analgesia was defined by ...changes in unconditioned or escape responses to footshock. Almost all electrodes produced both self-stimulation and analgesia or neither. Thresholds for the 2 effects were highly correlated. Brain stimulation produced an analgesic aftereffect comparable in duration with the poststimulation enhancement of performance in self-stimulation (the priming effect). The refractory period of neurons underlying analgesia, assessed by behavioral means, was similar to that previously found for the priming effect in self-stimulation (.8-1.2 msec). Results suggest a common neural system mediating electrical analgesia and the priming effect of self-stimulation. (25 ref)
Discusses the difference between those responses which are intrinsically and extrinsically rewarding. Self-control is considered as the exercise of choice among molar response alternatives and as the ...regulation of behavior through biofeedback mechanisms. The self-control of those responses which are intrinsically rewarding but undesirable is discussed. It is postulated that (a) self-control drive results from fear-frustration being associated with lack of self-control, (b) self-control is learnable, and (c) there are positive and negative incentives for self-control. It is suggested that such a model of self-control can lead to an understanding of inter- and intraindividual differences in behavior control and of the engagement in undesirable, intrinsically rewarding behaviors as an assertion of self-control. Since self-control may be learned, it may be taught, and the principles of behaviorism are applied to an analysis of methods. Implications for smoking treatment programs are noted. It is concluded that the self-control drive needs to be associated with smoking behavior and the habits of not smoking to be practiced. (30 ref.)
Either rewarding or aversive stimulation of the hypothalamus and midbrain inhibited the flexion reflex in 32 hooded and albino rats under nembutal anesthesia. Inhibition did not appear with urethane ...or ether anesthesia. Results suggest a brain mechanism that inhibits the spinal flexion reflex while facilitating higher levels of the motor system.
Tested predictions derived from social learning research with children, employing experimental dyads. In a factorial design, 18 male and 18 female adult chronic psychotic inpatients either (a) ...interacted with an adult model who was noncontingently warm and rewarding, (b) interacted with a neutral and nonrewarding model, or (c) were not exposed to a model. In a 2nd phase, the model displayed task responses and novel behaviors incidental to the task, and the S's subsequent imitation of the model was recorded. Findings support the hypotheses that adult chronic psychotics can acquire new behaviors through observation of a model without contingent reward to either party, and that a previously positive relationship with a model facilitates such learning.
Rats could terminate a stimulus associated with intermittent, response-independent rewards and shocks. Each S served as its own control and was tested on a variety of shock intensities. Stimulus ...termination rate was found to be directly related to shock intensity. Except at very high shock intensities Ss terminated the stimulus less frequently when both food and shock were possible than when only shock was possible. Variations in hunger drive also affected the frequency of stimulus termination. The present technique may prove useful as a relatively simple method for studying conflict behavior and secondary reinforcement.
Found that the fluorescence intensity of the catecholamine cell bodies of the A2 group--as determined by microfluorimetry--increased significantly due to exposure of male rats of the ...Sprague-Dawley-Ivanovas strain to the following environmental events: placement from the colony cage into a cold (4°C) room for a period of 10 min, isolation from the colony for 6-7 days, and satiation of grouped Ss by allowing access to sweetened milk for 15 min. The following events failed to affect the intensity of the cells of A2: reduction of the group colony size from 8 to 3 rats per colony for 6-7 days and presentation of water instead of milk after the rats had experienced 6-7 days of milk satiation. Results indicate that aversive as well as rewarding environmental events activate the catecholamine cells of A2. (19 ref)
Demonstrates that some animals consistently show the anomalous effects in a variety of test situations whereas others never do, and that Ss which initially did not show the anomalous effects did so ...when painful tailshock was paired with the rewarding brain stimulation. 20 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were tested in 2 experiments. (17 ref.)
PDF
