To determine whether adult exploratory behavior is altered by rearing conditions, male rats were reared in white or black painted cages. Upon reaching adulthood, they were placed in a black start compartment and permitted to run to a white goal compartment with measures of starting and running speed recorded. The data suggest influence from rearing condition and secondary reinforcement.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BeachF.JaynesJ.The effects of early experience upon the behavior of animals. Psychol. Bull., 1954, 52, 239–260.
2.
ButlerR.Curiosity in monkeys. Sci. American, 1954, 190, 70–75.
3.
ButlerR.HarlowH.Persistence of visual exploration in monkeys. J. comp. physiol. Psychol., 1954, 47, 258–263.
4.
EhrlicheA.Effects of past experience on the rat's response to novelty. Canad. J. Psychol., 1961, 15, 15–19.
5.
FowlerH.Exploratory motivation and animal handling: the effect on runway performance of start box exposure time. J. comp. physiol. Psychol., 1963, 56, 866–871.
6.
GriffithsW.StingerW.The effects of intense stimulation experienced during infancy on adult behavior in the rat. Psychol. Rev., 1952, 45, 301–306.
7.
LevineS.Infantile experiences and consummatory behavior in adulthood. J. comp. physiol. Psychol., 1957, 50, 609–612.
8.
MandlerJ.The effect of food deprivation on the adult behavior of the rat. J. comp. physiol. Psychol., 1958, 51, 513–517.
9.
MasonW.HarlowH.ReupingR.Development of manipulatory responsiveness in the infant rhesus monkey. J. comp. physiol. Psychol., 1959, 52, 555–558.