Effect of detainment on extinction of avoidance responses.

The relationship between the duration of detainment in the presence of the CS and the rate of CAR extinction was sought and the results are interpreted in terms of both "conservation of anxiety" and counterconditioning.

Abstract

Following shuttle-box avoidance training, 10 rats were assigned to each of 6 groups, matched on the basis of trials to acquisition criterion. During extinction, Ss were detained in the presence of the CS for intervals of 0-20 sec. before being allowed to perform the avoidance response. The rate of extinction increased with the duration of detainment. The results are interpreted in terms of both conservation of and counterconditioning. In contrast to classical aversive conditioning, responding persists in the absence of the US (shock) in instrumental avoidance situations when the CS is co-terminous with the conditioned avoidance response (CAR). In order to explain this difference, it has been proposed that anxiety is classically conditioned to the CS during escape (shock reinforced) trials, and that the reduction of the originally conditioned anxiety. Continued inforcement for the CAR (Mowrer, 1939). Thus, extinction of the CAR would depend upon prior extinction of anxiety. Supplementing this position, Solomon and Wynne (1954) have proposed that continued CAR performance is due to the conservation of by short-latency avoidance responses which quickly terminate the CS, and so prevent the elicitation of much of the originally conditioned anxiety. Continued exposure to the CS should elicit more of the total anxiety reaction, and so enhance extinction of anxiety and consequent extinction of the CAR. The present study sought the relationship between the duration of detainment in the presence of the CS and the rate of CAR extinction.