Human Ss preferred warned shock to unwarned shock when the warning signal contained 2 bits of information (25% shock) but not when it was redundant, i.e., 0 bits (100% shock). Rated strength of preference was also related to the information contained in the warning.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BadiaP.McBaneB.SuterS.LewisP.Preference behavior in an immediate versus variably delayed shock situation with and without a warning. J. exp. Psychol., in press.
2.
BerlyneD. E.Conflict, arousal, and curiosity. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1960.
3.
LockardJ. A.Choice of a warning signal or no warning signal in an unavoidable shock situation. J. comp. physiol. Psychol., 1963, 56, 526–530.
4.
PerkinsC. C.Jr.The stimulus conditions which followed learned responses. Psychol. Rep., 1955, 62, 341–348.
5.
PerkinsC. C.Jr.LevisD. F.SeymanR.Preference for signal-shock versus shock-signal. Psychol. Rep., 1963, 13, 735–738.
