Verbal conditioning and extinction with verbal and nonverbal reinforcers.

Does the Amygdala Mediate Oxytocin Effects on Socially Reinforced Learning?

“…In line with previous research, the authors found enhanced learning when social feedback was provided (Buss et al, 1958). Interestingly, oxytocin further and selectively boosted the advantage of social reinforcers.…”

“…However, an important aspect of social behavior that has been largely neglected until now is social learning. Early studies in experimental psychology have revealed that social reinforcement is effective in enhancing learning (e.g., Buss et al, 1958). However, the neural underpinnings of these effects are largely unclear and it is currently unknown whether oxytocin influences such learning processes in humans.…”

The effects of awareness on verbal conditioning.

“…Another factor which might reduce the sensitivity of a postexperimental interview is the practice of questioning 5s following extinction trials (Buss et al, 1958;Cohen et al, 1954;Dailey, 1953;Essman, 1959;Grossberg, 1956;Hartman, 1955;Klein, 1954). An 5 who may have been aware of a correct contingency during the conditioning trials might not have reported it during the typical brief interview either because he forgot it or because he got the idea, during the extinction trials, that he had been wrong.…”

The effects of congruent and conflicting social and task feedback on the acquisition of an imitative response.

“…Tulane University control a recent study (Kanareff & Lanzetta, 1960) employed a verbal response from £ as a social reinforcer in conjunction with an independently varied task reinforcement (indication of correctness or incorrectness). Verbal reinforcers have been shown to be effective in the conditioning of varied responses (e.g., Buss, Gerjuoy, & Zusman, 1954;Greenspoon, 1955) but they proved singularly ineffective in this study. Several possible reasons for the poor conditioning were recognized, some of which provided the rationale for the present procedure.…”