The effects of warned loss magnitude and timeout duration on human avoidance behavior.

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0203727 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1938-3711 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00225002 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Exp Anal Behav Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: [Malden, MA] : Wiley-Blackwell
Original Publication: Waltham, Mass., Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior.

Avoidance Learning* ; Conditioning, Operant*; Humans ; Reinforcement Schedule ; Reinforcement, Psychology

This study experimentally investigated the determinants of avoidance behavior when participants are forewarned of aversive outcomes. The effects of 3 variables on avoidance behavior were examined: point-loss amount (5 levels, from 20 to 100 points), duration of timeout from positive reinforcement (5 levels, 20 to 100 s), and 3 predictive accuracy levels (100%, 50%, and 0%) of warning stimuli. Twelve participants completed 3 sessions, each comprising 25 discrete trials, that differed in predictive accuracy level. Throughout a session, a participant engaged in button press responses that were reinforced by points under a conjunctive fixed-ratio fixed-interval schedule. During each trial, a warning stimulus that indicated a loss amount and a timeout duration was presented. If the participant pressed the avoidance button, then the timeout started, otherwise the loss occurred. The trial ended with termination of timeout or an occurrence of the loss. Results showed that avoidance responses increased when the loss amount increased and decreased when the timeout duration increased. The frequency of avoidance responses was lowest when the predictive accuracy of warning stimuli was 0%. These findings demonstrated that this experimental procedure could be useful for investigating human avoidance behavior outside the laboratory.
(© 2020 Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior.)

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Keywords: avoidance; choice; humans; point loss; timeout; warning stimulus

Date Created: 20201217 Date Completed: 20211028 Latest Revision: 20211028

20240829

10.1002/jeab.658

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