Avoidance Conditioning and Signal Duration: A Study of Secondary Motivation and Reward (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

O. H. Mowrer

9780331633641: Avoidance Conditioning and Signal Duration: A Study of Secondary Motivation and Reward (Classic Reprint)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0331633647 ISBN 13: 9780331633641

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

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How do organisms learn to avoid danger, and why does some learning stick longer than others?

This study examines avoidance conditioning and how the duration of a warning signal affects what a subject actually learns. It argues that motivation and anxiety-reduction play central roles in reinforcement, shaping how quickly and firmly avoidance behaviors form.

Using controlled experiments, it compares classic and instrumental conditioning approaches and shows that a response which ends both the warning signal and the aversive stimulus tends to produce stronger, longer-lasting learning. The work links fear reduction to enduring behavior, offering a practical framework for understanding how anxiety influences habit formation and problem solving.

Shows why conditioning can be stronger when the danger signal terminates with the correct response
Explores how fear and anxiety reinforce learning beyond simple stimulus pairing
Discusses surprising differences between classical and instrumental conditioning
Connects experimental findings to broader questions about motivation and adaptation

Ideal for readers interested in learning, motivation, and the psychology of behavior, especially those curious about how anxiety shapes conditioning and decision making.

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