Role of anticipatory responses in avoidance conditioning: An important control

Abstract

Substantial numbers of “avoidance” (anticipatory) responses are maintained in avoidance conditioning paradigms though no avoidance contingency is operating. This suggests that variables other than the avoidance contingency are responsible for the emergence of CRs, and that variables which influence avoidance acquisition might do so because of their influence on anticipatory responding. It is suggested that the effect of such variables on anticipatory responding be routinely assessed by including control groups in which the avoidance contingency is withheld. © 1967, Psychonomic Press. All rights reserved.