Relationship between Reinforcement of Another Person and Self-Reinforcement

Abstract

An earlier study showed that the effect of a model on changing self-reinforcement was also seen in the observing S's reinforcement of another person. The present experiment further evaluated this relationship, using a model to change the reinforcement of another and also examining changes in self-reinforcement. The task involved evaluation of the popularity of word associations. The model was introduced as a tape recording of a voice giving either a high or low distribution of points in evaluating recorded association. Both the high and low models had corresponding effects on the observer's rate of reinforcing another person. However, only the low model also affected subsequent self-reinforcement. Control groups listening to a model but not giving reinforcements themselves also showed an effect in their subsequent self-reinforcement rates. There was a tendency for experience with reinforcing another, regardless of model condition, to raise rate of self-reinforcement.