EFFECTS OF BLOCKING AN INSTRUMENTAL AVOIDANCE RESPONSE - FACILITATED EXTINCTION BUT PERSISTENCE OF FEAR

Investigated facilitation of avoidance extinction through response prevention under 2 levels of acquisition (3 and 8 successive avoidance trials) and 3 levels of blocking (5-sec detainment and 15- or 60-sec trials with total avoidance response prevention). Ss were 82 albino rats. An independent test of fear reduction involved allowing Ss subsequently to approach the shock chamber for food. Results indicate that complete prevention of the response during the 1st 5 extinction trials greatly facilitates extinction, independent of trial length, whereas brief detainment does not. However, blocked Ss gave evidence of greater residual fear than detained or unblocked Ss which respond as do nonshocked controls. These results hold for both levels of acquisition. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.