Avoidance Conditioning and Signal Duration - Softcover

O. H. Mowrer

 
9781333812003: Avoidance Conditioning and Signal Duration

Synopsis

This book delves into the fascinating world of avoidance conditioning, a type of learning where an organism learns to avoid an unpleasant stimulus. The author challenges the traditional associationist theories of learning, which posit that learning occurs solely through the pairing of stimuli. Drawing on the work of Brogden, Lipman, and Culler, the book argues that the key to understanding avoidance conditioning lies in the concept of "effect," suggesting that actions are more likely to be repeated if they lead to positive outcomes or the reduction of unpleasant ones. The book explores the paradox of why avoidance conditioning seems to be more effective when an organism can actively avoid the unpleasant stimulus, rather than simply escaping it after it has occurred. Through a series of experiments with rats, the author investigates how the timing and duration of conditioned stimuli, as well as the associated emotional responses, influence learning. The author argues that anxiety plays a crucial role in avoidance conditioning, and that the reduction of anxiety serves as a powerful reinforcement mechanism. The book's exploration of anxiety reduction as a motivational force provides a compelling alternative to traditional learning theories, shedding light on the complex interplay of behavior, motivation, and emotional states in the learning process.

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Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

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

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  0331633647 ISBN 13:  9780331633641
Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018
Hardcover