Discriminative learning after uncontrollable shocks

Authors

  • Angelica Capelari Universidade Metodista de São Paulo
  • Maria Helena Leite Hunziker Universidade de São Paulo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5380/psi.v13i1.10809

Keywords:

learned helplessness, uncontrollability, stimulus control

Abstract

This experiment investigated whether non-contingent (uncontrollable) aversive stimuli can produce interference on subsequent positively reinforced discriminative learning. In the first session, rats were divided into three groups (n=8) exposed to controllable (C), uncontrollable (I) or no-shock (N) conditions. After that, all rats were exposed to 10 sessions of positive reinforcement under a multiple-concurrent FR 6/Extinction. The results showed a transitory effect: in the first session of the discriminative training, previous exposure to shocks reduced response frequency, and this suppressive effect was slightly stronger for group I; in the tenth session, all groups showed high response frequency and equal discriminative indexes (higher than 0,80). These results suggest that uncontrollable aversive stimuli do not interfere on positively reinforced discriminative learning, contrary to a generalized learned helplessness effect between aversive and appetitive contexts.

 

Keywords: learned helplessness; uncontrollability; stimulus control.

Author Biographies

Angelica Capelari, Universidade Metodista de São Paulo

Coordenadora do NEPAP

Maria Helena Leite Hunziker, Universidade de São Paulo

Departamento de Psicologia Experimental

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Published

2009-10-29

How to Cite

Capelari, A., & Hunziker, M. H. L. (2009). Discriminative learning after uncontrollable shocks. Interação Em Psicologia, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.5380/psi.v13i1.10809

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 1 (2009)

Section

Articles

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