STIMULUS INTENSITY DYNAMISM AND AUDITORY GENERALIZATION FOR APPROACH AND AVOIDANCE BEHAVIOR IN RATS

Taught 2 separate groups of 15 male albino rats each to press a lever either for food reward (approach) or for shock avoidance (avoidance in the presence of a discrete 4-K-cps signal). Different intensites were used as the training stimulus in 3 subgroups of Ss. Then generalization gradients were obtained by presenting a variety of sound intensities during extinction. Stimulus intensity dynamism, as measured by differences in the gradients depending on the intensity of the training stimulus, occurred significantly in both groups. Contrary to certain of N. E. Miller's assumptions in his conflict theory, no reliable differences were found in the slopes of approach and avoidance gradients. This finding occurs when the 2 types of behavior are closely matched on several hitherto uncontrolled factors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.