Reinforcement Preferences and Personality Profiles of Hospitalized Schizophrenics

Abstract

The Reinforcement Survey Schedule developed by Cautela and Kastenbaum was applied to a random sample of hospitalized schizophrenics from several different wards of a state hospital. A personality test designed to identify the strengths of various emotional dispositions was also used. The most highly reinforcing items for the population as a whole were being entertained by TV, movies, or radio; babies; children; and happy people. Reinforcement preferences for men and women were quite different on a number of items. Results from the personality test indicated that schizophrenic patients who exhibit affect of any type (positive or negative) have more reinforcement preferences than those who are relatively apathetic.

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