Self-punitive behavior and periodic punishment

Abstract

Periodic punishment (33%) was compared with continuous punishment (100%) for producing self-punitive behavior in a straight-runway shock-escape situation. Both punishment schedules resulted in self-punitive or vicious circle behavior. Periodic punishment was as effective as continuolls punishment. The differences in performance on punished and nonpunished trials of the periodically punished group emphasized the role of punishment as a source of temporal drive.

Self-punitive behavior: Masochism or confusion?

“…Another criticism of the discrimination hypothesis (Brown, 1969) is that it fails to account for the results of studies by Melvin (1964) and Martin and Moon (1967). These studies showed that groups of rats trained under 33% and 67% shock schedules and then shifted to 100% shock during extinction were just as resistant to extinction as groups maintained on their original schedules.…”