Stimulus selection in eyelid conditioning in the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Conducted 2 experiments, using a total of 24 female New Zealand white rabbits, in which a "visual" stimulus (V), either flashes or electrical stimulation of the optic chiasma, was reinforced in compound with a differentially reinforced (CS+) or nonreinforced (CS–) nonvisual stimulus. Visual stimulus control of conditioned eyeblink activity was acquired if V was reinforced in compound with CS– but was "blocked" when reinforced in compound with CS+. Both effects were demonstrable within Ss and were independent of the method of visual stimulation. Extinction and backward conditioning of chiasmic stimulation preceded retraining of 6 Ss. The establishment and blocking of visual stimulus control were again evident within Ss. The data are interpretable in terms of either attentional or associative theory. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On some factors in the organizational characteristics of free recall.

Ss "reorganize the material so that the recalls differ in sequential properties from those of the original list." When categorized subgroups of words are presented in a random order and Ss in recall put together or cluster such categorized items, the procedure is called category clustering. Associative clustering occurs "when in their recalls the Ss put together in sequence the stimuli and their responses which had been separated at list presentation" (e.g., stimuli such as table and mountain and responses such as chair and hill were presented in random order in word lists to Ss for recall). Results of several investigations are discussed. "When sufficiently prominent, experimenter-provided associational and categorical relations between members of a word pair provide a basis for clustering in free recall alternative to the bases—associational or otherwise—the S will use to effect subjective organization or idiosyncratic pairing. Free recall can tell us something of the way verbal organization is set up but we are largely in the dark as to how this organization acts to bring related items together whatever the basis of their relationship." 14 figures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Gender differences in interaction style and influence": Correction.

Reports an error in the original article by L. L. Carli (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1989, [Apr] Vol 56[4], 565–576). On page 567, the 3rd sentence in the Procedure section should read, "Half of the subjects were paired with same-sex partners and half with opposite-sex partners, resulting in 16 female pairs, 16 male pairs, and 32 mixed-sex pairs.' On page 568, the equation at the bottom of the left-hand column should read as follows: (Mfs?–?Mms?–?Mfm?+?Mmm)/((2MSe?+ &2MS′e)(1/n))?. (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in record 1989-25837-001.) Observed 128 Ss in mixed- and same-sex dyads to examine effects of interaction on sex differences in influence. Ss discussed 2 topics on which they disagreed. During the 2nd discussion, 1 S in each pair was told to influence the other. Ss showed more agreement and positive social behavior when paired with a woman and more disagreement and task behavior when paired with a man. Although… (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the social advantages of having an older, opposite-sex sibling: Birth order influences in mixed-sex dyads.

Examined the influences of birth order on behavior occurring in the initial, unstructured interactions of 40 mixed-sex dyads composed of a male and a female undergraduate who each had a sibling of the opposite sex. The design contrasted 4 dyad types: (a) a firstborn man paired with a firstborn woman, (b) a firstborn man paired with a last born woman, (c) a last born man paired with a firstborn woman, and (d) a last born man paired with a last born woman. Each pair of Ss was videotaped during their 5-min initial meeting. Ss then completed questionnaires about the interaction. Results indicate that Ss with an older, opposite-sex sibling were particularly likely to have rewarding interactions with strangers of the opposite sex. Relative to firstborn men, last born men talked nearly twice as long, asked more questions, and evoked more gazes, verbal reinforcers, and self-reported liking from their female partners. Relative to firstborn women, last born women were more likely to initiate the interaction and to exceed the rate at which their male partners smiled. (64 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Concept identification of schizophrenics as a function of social interaction, sex, and task complexity.

150 schizophrenics participated in a study including 2 sex groups, 3 levels of task complexity, and 3 conditions where Ss served individually or in pairs. In free interaction 2 Ss were free to communicate in reaching mutual decisions; in restricted interaction discussion between Ss was prohibited. The Ss' task was to solve concept-identification problems. Females performed poorest in interpersonal situations and best when alone, whereas male Ss performed as well alone as in free interaction. In free interaction no relationship was found between errors and verbal activity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Etiquette of verbal conditioning.

Explored the role of ambiguity in producing verbal conditioning by using 2 E types and 2 S types. Es, designated "craftly" because they conditioned their Ss without S becoming aware, were assumed to be more ambiguous than normal Es. Ss uninformed about the correct response were considered to be in a more ambiguous position than informed Ss. 6 college students were assigned to each role within each of the 4 kinds of E-S groups. 1 set of 4 groups sat face-to-face while a visual barrier was interposed between another set. The barrier had no effect on conditioning. As expected, crafty Es were more effective conditioners and their verbal style was rated less clear and less certain. Informed Ss conditioned better than the uninformed. Certain types of ambiguity increase verbal compliance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Similarity and complementarity with the A-B scale in verbal conditioning.

Attempted to test the A-B "complementarity" hypothesis. It was predicted that dyadic groups composed of dissimilar A-B pairs would perform better than dyadic groups composed of similar pairs. 40 male undergraduates and 4 male senior-class Es were studied in a verbal conditioning task because of its long-established acceptance as a technique for the testing of interactional personality and therapy variables. In that paradigm, however, a "similarity" hypothesis has been suggested as a possible explanation of "therapeutic effectiveness." A-type Ss conditioned significantly better than B-type Ss regardless of any other factor. Bs decreased their use of the reinforced response class over trials to a degree that was almost significant. The present findings, although not supporting an interactional explanation, support studies that have shown A types to be more facile and active verbally, and to be more sensitive to social cues, than Bs. (15 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Longitudinal relations in repeated observations of mother–child interaction from 1 to 2? years.

36 males and 41 females in White, 2-parent families were observed at home either 4 (63 Ss) or 12 (14 Ss) times in the age period 12–30 mo. Their natural social interactions with the mother were recorded in notebooks and coded into categories of child- and mother-initiated physical, affectionate, verbal, visual, responsive, and proximal contact. These interactions were examined to show developmental continuity and change, individual stability over time, and within-time relations. Comparisons in interaction patterns were made between boys and girls and Ss judged "securely" or "insecurely" attached. Findings show the following: The mother was the predominant initiator of interaction, but her predominance declined over the 1?-yr investigation. Mother–S physical contact and proximity declined from 12 to 30 mo (especially for sons and securely attached Ss), whereas the S's communication (verbal interaction and responsiveness) increased. The mother's attention and communication first increased and then decreased. These changes are discussed in relation to the development of Ss' communication ability and autonomy. (40 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Stimulus Selection in Eyelid Conditioning in the Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)": Erratum.

Reports an error in the original article by Perry S. Kinkaide (Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1974[Jun], 86[6], 1132-1140). The lower portion of Figure 3 on page 1138 should have represented the last two conditions for Group T as Test AV and reTest AV. The last sentence of the caption should have been deleted. (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in record 1979-05368-001) Conducted 2 experiments, using a total of 24 female New Zealand white rabbits, in which a "visual" stimulus (V), either flashes or electrical stimulation of the optic chiasma, was reinforced in compound with a differentially reinforced (CS+) or nonreinforced (CS-) nonvisual stimulus. Visual stimulus control of conditioned eyeblink activity was acquired if V was reinforced in compound with CS- but was "blocked" when reinforced in compound with CS+. Both effects were demonstrable within Ss and were independent of the method of visual stimulation. Extinction and backward conditioning of chiasmic stimulation preceded retraining of 6 Ss. The establishment and blocking of visual stimulus control were again evident within Ss. The data are interpretable in terms of either attentional or associative theory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Learning and Memory Battery (LAMB): Development and standardization.

A new clinical test for assessing learning and memory abilities, the LAMB, is described. The LAMB was developed within an information-processing framework, and its normative sample contained 480 Ss (aged 18–79 yrs) stratified over 8 age groups. The LAMB contains 3 verbal, 2 visual, and 2 numerical subtests. Specific features include multiple learning trials, delayed-retention tests, a continuum of retrieval cues ranging from free recall through cued recall to recognition, and both visual and verbal material that have a sufficient range of difficulty enabling examination of Ss differing widely in abilities. Interrater reliability estimates and measures of internal consistency strongly support the reliability of the LAMB. Factor analysis supports the validity of the LAMB by showing that it measures 2 independent processes: visual and verbal memory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Conditioning of verbal behavior as a function of awareness, need for social approval, and motivation to receive reinforcement.

This investigation evaluated the effects of awareness, need for social approval, and motivation to receive reinforcement on verbal conditioning. 61 male college students were reinforced with "good" for constructing sentences beginning with "I" or "we." Awareness and reinforcement motivation were assessed by an intensive postconditioning interview; need for social approval was measured by the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability scale. Ss aware of a correct response-reinforcement contingency gave more "I" and "we" sentences than Unaware Ss, who showed no evidence of learning. Aware Ss motivated to receive reinforcement gave more "I" and "we" sentences than unmotivated Aware Ss. Contrary to expectation, need for approval was not related to Ss' reinforcement motivation or performance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Channel consistency and inconsistency in the communications of married couples.

48 married couples were videotaped while they discussed their relationship. The conversation was divided into thought units (basically speaker turns), and each unit was coded 4 times. Positive messages were used more by Ss with high and moderate levels of marital adjustment (MAD) (as measured by the short Marital Adjustment Test), whereas negative messages were used more by Ss low in MAD. Neutral messages were used more by males than females, particularly among the low-MAD Ss. Over all adjustment levels, neutral messages were used more in the verbal channel, positive messages were used less in the verbal channel, and negative messages were used less in the verbal and visual channels. The most frequently occurring discrepancies were those with positivity in the visual channel and negativity in the verbal or vocal channels, particularly the vocal channel. The percentage of discrepancies involving positivity in the visual channel and negativity in the vocal channel increased linearly from the high- to low-MAD Ss, with females generally using more of these communications than males. (39 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of memory perspective on retrospective causal attributions.

Examined whether people's retrospective causal attributions might be mediated by the visual perspective from which events are recalled. In Study 1, pairs of Ss participated in "get-acquainted" converstions and made a series of attribution ratings for their performance. They returned 3 weeks later to rerate their performance on the same attribution scales and to indicate the perspective from which they remembered their earlier conversation. Ss reported either "observer" memories in which they could "see" themselves from the outside or "field" memories in which their field of view matched that of the original situation. Study 2 was identical to Study 1 with the exception that Ss' memory perspectives were manipulated via verbal instructions. In both experiments, conversations that were recalled from an observer's perspective were attributed more dispositionally. Discussion of these results focuses on how they further understanding of the contradictory findings (e.g., B. S. Moore et al; see record 1981-01280-001) reported in the literature on temporal shifts in attributions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of early exposure to ventral gland odor on physical and behavioral development and adult social behavior in mongolian gerbils.

Compared 34 pairs of male and female gerbils reared by ventral gland-excised and intact parents. Repeated measurements before and after puberty failed to reveal an effect of gland odor exposure on body weight, ventral gland size, open-field defecation, and time of vaginal opening. Exposed Ss were more attracted than nonexposed Ss to a strange male's gland odor during preference tests involving "marked" and "unmarked" paper strips. Opposite-sex pairs of exposed Ss engaged in more social behavior than did nonexposed pairs, but there was no difference in fighting frequency or, during extended cohabitation, in fecundity. While early exposure to gland odor apparently does not affect physical maturation, it may enhance later responsiveness to stimuli (gland odors) that are useful in locating conspecifics and that facilitate social interactions between previously unacquainted gerbils. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Judging attraction from nonverbal behavior: The gain phenomenon.

Used warm and cold nonverbal behaviors in an attempt to produce the gain phenomenon (i.e., the finding that people are more attracted to a person who is initially punishing and then rewarding than to one who is always rewarding). In Exp I with 33 male and 33 female undergraduates, nonverbal behaviors scaled for their capacity to convey attraction were factor analyzed. An actress then performed selected behaviors in videotaped conversations with a male. Subsequent ratings of the tapes confirmed that Ss attributed more mutual attraction to actors in warm than in cold segments. In Exp II with 27 male and 36 female undergraduates, segments were spliced together. A gain effect resulted: Ss judged the man as more attracted when the woman was first cold and then warm than when she was consistently warm. Explanations based on stimulus contrast, or adaptation level, theory were ruled out because Ss did not perceive the woman in the cold-warm sequence as warmer or as indicating more attraction to the man than in the warm-warm sequence. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Father absence in low-income Mexican-American families: Children's social adjustment and conceptual differentiation of sex role attributes.

Investigated the effects of paternal deprivation on 248 4th-grade Mexican-American students. Drawings of the human figure--1 male and 1 female--were obtained from each S, following the procedures of the Goodenough-Harris Drawing Test. Ss were also administered Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices and the Bender Gestalt Test. Each S was rated on degree of personal adjustment by his/her classroom teacher on a 4-point scale, ranging from well adjusted, no problems in relating to others, to serious maladjustment. Results show that father-present Ss obtained significantly higher Goodenough-Harris scores than father-absent Ss on both the male and the female figures drawn. The female figures drawn by the father-absent Ss had significantly fewer feminine attributes than those drawn by father-present Ss. Whereas teachers found father-present males and females and father-absent females fairly well adjusted, father-absent males were found to show significantly more signs of social and emotional maladjustment than all the other 3 groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social behaviour in rats during escape from shock.

Following individual training in a leverpress shock escape situation, 6 pairs of male albino Wistar rats were exposed to the shock escape schedule. Escape performance of pretrained Ss deteriorated during the social session regardless of whether the pair involved a naive or 2nd pretrained S. Reliable shock-elicited fighting was observed only in pairs in which both Ss had been pretrained to escape shock, whereas no fighting occurred in paired naive Ss during exposure to the escape schedule. Disruption of individual escape performance, as well as bizarre social results (e.g., Ss making leverpressing or "holding" responses on each other), are discussed in terms of R. C. Bolles's theory of species specific defense reactions. (French summary) (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)