A Test of Hull's Reactive Inhibition Concept: Persistence of Curvilinear Response Pattern in Button-Pressing

Abstract

Fifteen Ss were tested on a simple five-button linear display in order to (a) verify a bowing effect observed in a previous study and (b) test whether the bowing was reduced in repeated trials. According to a prediction based on Hull's concept of reactive inhibition, the more frequent responses in the pattern should have become less frequent and the initial curve less bowed. This did not occur; in fact, an exactly opposite result was obtained.