INCOMPLETE REDUCTION OF REWARD AND FRUSTRATION EFFECT WITH HUNGER CONSTANT

Previous work has found that complete and incomplete reduction of reward in Goal 1 (G-1) of a double-goal-box runway results in faster running speed in the post-G-1 alley. But such studies have not controlled hunger motivation when reward is reduced. The present study manipulated the amount of food in the start box so that 20 naive male albino rats received the same amount regardless of the reduction or increment in reward. After Ss had run both experimental and control alleys to different levels of reward, the level of reward in the G-1 experimental alley was increased for 1 group and decreased for the other group. Despite the constant hunger level, the reduced group increased running speed in the post-G-1 alley and the increased reward group did not change speed. Also found was a decreased running speed for the reduction group in the pre-G-1 alley after reduction had been taking place in G-1. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.