Motivational Properties of Self-Reinforcement

To examine the motivational effects of Self-reinforcement (SR), Ss were asked to match to sample tachistoscopically presented stimuli from four response choices 100 trials with non-repeated samples were given. Three groups received 60% non-contingent reinforcement in Phase I. A fourth (NR) group received no reinforcement during the experiment. In Phase II, an External reinforcement (ER) group received continued non-contingent reinforcement, an SR group was given control over reinforcement delivery, and an Extinction (EX) group received no reinforcement. In Phase III no Ss were reinforced. Analysis of correct responses indicated no group differences in Phases I or II but significant differences under extinction in Phase III. The SR group gave significantly more accurate recognitions than all other groups. In Phase 11, SR administration closely matched the preceding ER schedule.

[1]  D. Butler,et al.  Learning during “extinction” with paired associates , 1965 .

[2]  A. Bandura,et al.  TRANSMISSION OF PATTERNS OF SELF-REINFORCEMENT THROUGH MODELING. , 1964, Journal of abnormal psychology.

[3]  A. Marston.  Variables Affecting Incidence of Self Reinforcement , 1964 .

[4]  F. H. Kanfer,et al.  DETERMINANTS OF SELF-REINFORCEMENT IN HUMAN LEARNING. , 1963, Journal of experimental psychology.

[5]  F. H. Kanfer,et al.  Conditioning of Self-Reinforcing Responses: An Analogue to Self-Confidence Training , 1963 .

[6]  F. H. Kanfer,et al.  Human reinforcement: Experimenter and subject controlled , 1963 .

[7]  K. Moyer,et al.  Supplementary report: effects of instructions on extinction and recovery of a conditioned avoidance response. , 1962, Journal of experimental psychology.

[8]  E. Gibson,et al.  Improvement in perceptual judgments as a function of controlled practice or training. , 1953, Psychological bulletin.

[9]  Bitterman Me,et al.  Secondary reinforcement and the discrimination hypothesis. , 1953, The American journal of psychology.

[10]  O. Mowrer,et al.  Habit strength as a function of the pattern of reinforcement , 1945 .

[11]  W. Mischel,et al.  Effects of discrepancies between observed and imposed reward criteria on their acquisition and transmission. , 1966, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[12]  K. Moyer,et al.  Effects of instructions on the extinction of a conditioned finger-withdrawal response. , 1961, Journal of experimental psychology.