The effect of short delays in punishment on an immediately rewarded response in humans

Abstract

Four groups of 22 human Ss were trained on a button-pressing response for immediate reward (money). Following acquisition training, Ss received punishment (electric shock) as well as reward for the response. One group (G0) received immediate punishment, G10 received punishment 10 sec after the rewarded response, G20 and G30 received punishment delayed 20 sec or 30 sec, respectively. G0 displayed more response suppression than the three groups receiving delayed punishment but the delay groups did not differ from each other. © 1967, Psychonomic Press. All rights reserved.