Determinants of experimental neurosis in cats

✍ Scribed by J. Oliver

• Book ID: 102674693
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1975
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 614 KB
• Volume: 31
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-9762
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-4679(197510)31:4<594::aid-jclp2270310403>3.0.co;2-e

✦ Synopsis

In order to assess the relative effectiveness of Masserman's contingent method and Wolpe's noncontingent method of inducing experimental neurosis in cats, cats in four independent groups were trained to a uniform criterion to eat in a standard apparatus and then shocked either contingently upon eating or noncontingently. Cats shocked noncontingently were matched with those shocked contingently for the number of shocks administered. Ss then were assessed for persistence and/or generalization of the inhibition of eating in the same or in a discriminably-diff erent setting. Masserman's contingent method induced significantly greater inhibition a t the .05 level. This finding is consistent with the prediction that would be made on the basis of the delay-of-reinforcement gradient. It is suggested that the contrasting results obtained by Wolpe and Smart may be attributable t o confounding variables introduced unintentionally.