ANTICIPATORY RESPONDING AND AVOIDANCE DISCRIMINATION AS FACTORS IN AVOIDANCE CONDITIONING

HYPOTHESIZED THAT PROMPT CS TERMINATION ON CR TRIALS REINFORCES AVOIDANCE ACQUISITION BECAUSE IT SERVES AS A DISCRIMINATIVE CUE FOR UCS AVOIDANCE RATHER THAN BECAUSE IT LEADS TO FEAR REDUCTION. IT WAS SHOWN THAT A CUE OTHER THAN PROMPT CS TERMINATION COULD SERVE THIS FUNCTION BOTH IN DELAYED AND IN TRACE AVOIDANCE CONDITIONING PARADIGMS. THE IMPORTANT ROLE PLAYED BY ANTICIPATORY RESPONSES-CRS WHICH ARE INDEPENDENT OF THE AVOIDANCE CONTINGENCY-IN AVOIDANCE ACQUISITION IS NOTED. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1968 American Psychological Association.