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THE OPERANT CONTROL OF VOCALIZATION IN THE DOG 1
Author(s) -
Salzinger Kurt,
Waller Marcus B.
Publication year - 1962
Publication title -
journal of the experimental analysis of behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.75
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1938-3711
pISSN - 0022-5002
DOI - 10.1901/jeab.1962.5-383
Subject(s) - operant conditioning , reinforcement , stimulus (psychology) , stimulus control , schedule , psychology , audiology , communication , differential reinforcement , computer science , neuroscience , cognitive psychology , social psychology , medicine , nicotine , operating system
Control over the vocal responses of three dogs was established using operant‐conditioning procedures. Several points of interest were observed in the data. First, fixed‐ratio schedules of reinforcement generated a vocal response topography which was similar in detail to that of a “motor” bar‐nosing response. Second, vocal responding was brought under the control of external visual stimuli as a result of differential reinforcement. Third, good stimulus control was maintained on a multiple schedule containing a vocal‐response component and a bar‐response component. Fourth, the stimulus control on the multiple schedule transferred with minimal disruption to a chain schedule requiring a sequence of 10 bar responses followed by 10 vocal responses. Fifth, because vocal and bar responses are not mutually exclusive, concurrent responding tended to develop on the chain schedule. These results were discussed with reference to the advisability of applying the terms operant and respondent to unconditioned behavior, and, particularly, to unconditioned verbal behavior.