Psychology ETDs

Publication Date

1-22-1962

Abstract

Mowrer (1960) views secondary reinforcement as not only real phenomenon, but as an important learning mechanism. He states that "habit strength is stimuli with secondary reinforcement capacity and that a 'habit' is strong or weak, not as a function of the Sd-R1 (drive stimulus-intstrumental response) 'bond', but as a function of how many of the stimuli produced by a response possess how much of this so-called reinforcing potential." (italics his, p. 228). This discussion by Mowrer, together with a consideration of the research reported above, led the present writer to wonder whether several different stimuli (in the sense of stimulating different receptors) when paired with a primary reinforcer might acquire more secondary reinforcing potential (as indicated by resistence to extinction or new learning) than one. In other words, does a complex stimulus pattern paired with a primary reinforcer acquire more secondary reinforcing potential than say, one characteristic of that pattern would? The present study was an attempt to answer that question.

Degree Name

Psychology

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Psychology

First Committee Member (Chair)

Henry Carleton Ellis

Second Committee Member

George Maxwell Peterson

Third Committee Member

David Theodore Benedetti

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

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