Conflict behavior as a function of the strengths of competing response tendencies

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CONFLICT B1BAYI0B. MB A FOTOMOW OF STSSKHIS “ of coiimxm mspohsi Tjaoraoxxs

fef Xfift liellosaXi. B ilo d e a u

A d i s s e r t a t i o n s u b m itte d i s p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t o f th e r e q u ire m e n t* f o r th e d e g re e o f B o o to r o f P h ilo s o p h y , i s th e D ep artm en t o f P sy ch o lo g y in th e G ra d u ate C o lle g e o f th e S t a t e U n iv e r s it y o f Iowa

JTune, 1989

ProQuest Number: 10598583

All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is d e p e n d e n t upo n th e quality o f th e c o p y subm itted. In th e unlikely e v e n t th a t th e author did not sen d a c o m p le te m anuscript a n d th e re a re missing p a g e s, th e se will b e n o te d . Also, if m aterial h a d to b e rem o v ed , a n o te will in d icate th e deletion.

uest ProQ uest 10598583 Published by ProQ uest LLC (2017). Copyright o f th e Dissertation is held by th e Author. All rights reserved. This work is p ro te c te d ag ain st unauthorized copying u nder Title 17, United States C o d e Microform Edition © ProQ uest LLC. ProQ uest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 - 1346

CL

A o ro o w L im » f The author w ish e s to e x p r e ss her g r a t it u d e to Dr* Ju&son 3 , Brown, who form ulated th e problem , and to Dr# J'Qhn Hi K nott fo r t h e ir h e lp f u l s u g g e s tio n s and c r i t i c i s m s during the co u rse o f t h i s in v e s t ig a t io n .

TABLB Of G O W S W m ■Chapter I II III

IV

page I n tr o d u c tio n * * • * • • » * . * * * . . « «

1

P u rp o se *

8

............................... * * »

P ro c e d u re * . * * ........................................................

10

A* B. 0* D«

10 10 12

S u b je c ts * • • • • « * « . * * . . * * ♦ A p p a ra tu s « P ro c e d u re # « * * * « * • * * * • * * • S c o rin g o f th e re c o rd s * * * . * * * • «

E e s u l t s and d is c u s s io n * « • » « * • * » * • A* E f f e c t s o f v a r i a t i o n s in th e s t r e n g t h s o f e q u a l co m p etin g te n d e n c ie s * * . * • B* E f f e c t s o f v a r i a t i o n s in th e d i f f e r e n c e in th e number o f p r e - c o n f l i c t t r i a l s to th e two l i g h t s * • « * « * * • • • • 0 » E f f e c t s o f v a r i a t i o n s in th e d i s t a n c e s from th e a v o id a n c e s tim u li* . . . . . .

V

Summary * • * * « • • « * * * *

................... •

16 18 18 34 4? 36

A* R e f e r e n c e s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

60

B* I n s t r u c t i o n s to th e s u b je c ts *

62

ill

* * * * *

T & B m OF FIGURES Figure 1

8

3

4

3

6

page Humber® o f f a i l u r e s to re s p o n d and co m p leted response® w ith in c r e a s in g p r e - c o n f l i c t t r a i n ­ in g to th e two l i g h t s # (Means o f c o n f l i c t t r i a l ® 1 and 3 ) , » , • « * , * , , , » » « , ,

31

Mean a m p litu d e o f i n i t i a l and maximum. r e s p o n s e s w ith in c r e a s in g p r e - c o n f l i c t t r a i n ­ in g to th e two l i g h t s , (Means o f c o n f l i c t t r i a l ® 1 and 8) , * , # * , * , * » , , , » * ,

84

Mean movement tim e on c o n f l i c t t r i a l 1 w ith in c r e a s in g p r e - c o n f l i c t t r a i n i n g to th© two lig h t® , » • * . » , , » *

39

lu m b e rs o f f a i l u r e s to re sp o n d and co m p leted re s p o n s e s w ith d e c r e a s in g d i f f e r e n c e i n p r e c o n f l i c t t r a i n i n g to th© two l i g h t s , (Means ©f c o n f l i c t t r i a l s 1 and 8 )* , , * • * « « * »

3?

Mean a m p litu d e o f i n i t i a l and maximum r e s p o n s e s w ith d e c r e a s in g d i f f e r e n c e in p r e ­ c o n f l i c t t r a i n i n g to t h e two lig h t® , (Mem® o f c o n f l i c t t r i a l s 1 and 8 ) . • * , * « , * , »

40

Mean movement tim e on c o n f l i c t t r i a l 1 w ith d e c re a s in g d i f f e r e n c e in p r e - c o n f l i c t t r a i n ­ in g to th e two l i g h t s ,

44

iv

7ABLS

Of

TABLES

Table

page

I

Summary o f th e E x p e rim e n ta l C o n d itio n s* * . * *

14

IX

Humber o f S u b je c ts Making a G iven Type o f C o n f l i c t Be spouse a s a f u n c tio n o f t h e A b s o lu te Humber o f P r e - C o n f l i c t T r i a l s « » * « * , , • ,

19

Humber o f S u b je c ts Making a n I n i t i a l R esponse Away from th e L e f t and B ig h t S tim u lu s L ig h ts f o r th e T h ree C o n d itio n s w ith E q u al T ra in in g to th e Two L ig h ts , . * * « » . « * * , » * . •

22

XIX

I¥

¥

FT

¥IX

TUI

IX

X

Mean Am plitude o f B espouse in 1 /1 6 in c h a s a f u n c t i o n o f I n c r e a s in g th e Huafcer o f T r i a l s to Each L ig h t i » , . * • »

•

25

M edian A m plitude o f R esp o n se i n 1 /1 6 in c h a s a f u n c t i o n o f I n c r e a s in g th e Humber o f T r i a l s t o Each L ig h t ...............................

26

Movement Time in Seconds on th e F i r s t C o n f l i c t T r i a l a s a F u n c tio n o f I n c r e a s in g th e Hus&er o f T r i a l s to Each L ig h t * * * * • « * # # * « #

2©

Humber o f S u b je c ts Making a G iv en Type o f C o n f l i c t R esponse a s a F u n c tio n o f th e D if­ f e r e n c e i n th e Eutsher o f P r e - c o n f l i c t T r i a l s to th e Two L ig h ts * * « « • • • # # • * » * • *

35

F re q u en cy o f R esp o n ses in th e P r e d ic te d and O p p o site D ir e c tio n s a s a F u n c tio n o f th e D if­ f e r e n c e i n th e Humber o f P r e - c o n f l i c t T rial© in th e Two L ig h ts . « « # .............................................

38

Mean A m p litu d e o f R esp o n se in 1 /1 6 in c h a s a F u n c tio n o f th e D if f e r e n c e i n th e Muafcer o f P r e - c o n f l i c t T r i a l s t o th e two L ig h ts • • • « •

41

M edian A m p litu d e o f Response i n 1 /1 6 in c h a s a F u n c tio n o f th e D if f e r e n c e i n th e Humber o f P r e - c o n f l i c t T r i a l s to th e Two L ig h ts * • * «

42

f^r

W

1 OF TABU23 {C ontinued)

Table XX

XXX

X X II

XIV

page Movement Time i n S econds on the f i r s t C o n f l i c t T r i a l a s a f u n c t i o n o f th e D if* t a r e n a s i n th e lu m b er o f P r o * c o n f l i c t T r i a l s t o th e Two L ig h ts

45

Number o f S u b je c ts Making a C iven Type of C o n f l i c t Beepons© a s a f u n c t i o n o f th e D is ta n c e o f Kaeh L ig h t from th e C en ter* « » • * * « * #

40

A m plitude o f B esp o n se in 1 /1 6 in c h f o r th e S u b je c ts who Moved Away from th e H e a re r L ig h t on C o n f l i c t T r i a l 1* ....................... * • « • • • »

51

Movement Time I n Seconds f o r th e S u b je c ts who Moved th e Maximum D is ta n c e Away from th e H e a re r L ig h t on C o n f lic t T r i a l ! • « « • • • •

53

vi

i c h a p te r I INTROOTCTIQ* When s e v e r a l s t i m u l i , each in d e p e n d e n tly c a p a b le o f e l i c i t i n g a r e s p o n s e a r e p r e s e n te d s im u lta n e o u s ly and a l l th e r e s p o n s e s c a n n o t o c c u r a t th e same tim e , th e s i t u a ­ t i o n i s c a l l e d a c o n f l i c t s i t u a t i o n and th e r e s u l t i n g b e h a v io r c o n f l i c t b e h a v io r*

A lth o u g h c o n f l i c t b e h a v io r can

be d e s c r ib e d In te rm s o f i t s q u a l i t a t i v e d i f f e r e n c e s from th e b e h a v io r evoked by th e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f a s i n g l e s tim u lu s , i t can a l s o be d e s c r ib e d i n te rm s o f th e l a t e n c y , a m p litu d e , and fre q u e n c y o f re s p o n s e to ea c h s tim u lu s *

I f we assume

t h a t th e l a t e n c y , a m p litu d e , and fre q u e n c y o f r e s p o n s e to a s in g l e s tim u lu s a r e f u n c tio n s o f r e a c t i o n p o t e n t i a l (sE r) ( 10) , i t i s a r e a s o n a b le e x te n s io n to assume t h a t th e b e h a v io r i n c o n f l i c t s i t u a t i o n s ca n be a c c o u n te d f o r in term® o f th e e x c i t a t o r y p o t e n t i a l s o f th e co m p etin g re sp o n se s » E ach s tim u lu s s e p a r a t e l y , fo llo w in g Hull*® fo rm u la ­ t i o n , i s assum ed to h av e a n e x c i t a t o r y s t r e n g t h , th e m agni­ tu d e o f w hich i s a m u l t i p l i c a t i v e f u n c tio n o f h a b i t s t r e n g t h {sHr} and d r iv e {13}*

H a b it s t r e n g t h i s assum ed to b e (1) an

i n c r e a s i n g f u n c tio n o f th e number o f r e i n f o r c e d e v o c a tio n s o f th e r e s p o n s e to th e c o n d itio n e d s tim u lu s and {£) a d e c r e a s in g f u n c tio n o f th e d i f f e r e n c e i n j* n « d .* s betw een

2 th e t r a c e o f th e c o n d itio n e d s tim u lu s and th e t r a c e o f a n o th e r s tim u lu s a lo n g th e a a m s e n s o ry d im e n sio n ( 10)* I t i s f u r t h e r assum ed t h a t when a s i n g l e s tim u lu s o r th e s e v e r a l s t i m u l i o p e r a t in g in an y s i t u a t i o n le a d to in c o m p a tib le r e s p o n s e s { re s p o n s e s w h ich c a n n o t o c c u r a t th e same t i m e ) , th e r e s p o n s e w h ich w i l l o c c u r i s th e one w ith th e l a r g e s t m om entary e x c i t a t o r y te n d e n c y ( is * 1? ) # The p r i n c i p l e o f o s c i l l a t i o n o f f e r e d by H u ll .{10} c a n be u se d to a c c o u n t f o r th e o c c u rr e n c e o f a r e s p o n s e when t h e s e p a r a te e x c i t a t o r y te n d e n c ie s a r e o f e q u a l s t r e n g t h and f o r th e o c c a s io n a l d o m in a tio n o f th e w e a k e st o f th e com­ p e t in g te n d e n c ie s *

The p r i n c i p l e o f o s c i l l a t i o n p ro p o s e s

t h a t th e m om entary s t r e n g t h o f an e f f e c t i v e r e a c t i o n p o t e n t i a l o f a g iv e n s t r e n g t h may ta k e any l e s s e r v a lu e w ith in a c o n s ta n t r a n g e , d ep e n d in g upon th e m ag n itu d e o f a d epreaant p o t e n t i a l ( s G r ) , th e m ag n itu d e o f w h ich v a r i e s from moment to moment a c c o r d in g to th e n orm al p r o b a b i l i t y f u n c tio n *

I f two r e a c t i o n p o t e n t i a l s a r e o f e q u a l s t r e n g t h ,

e a c h s h o u ld b e d o m in an t f i f t y p e r - c e n t o f th e tim e*

When

a d i f f e r e n c e in th e e x c i t a t o r y s t r e n g t h s e x i s t s , b u t th e r a n g e s o f th e o s c i l l a t o r y p o t e n t i a l s o v e r la p , th e r e s p o n s e d e te rm in e d by th e l a r g e r s i r i s e x p e c te d to o c c u r more f r e q u e n t l y , b u t n o t to th e co m p lete e x c lu s io n o f th e o th e r re sp o n se *

S in c e th e ra n g e o f o s c i l l a t i o n i s a s e u s e d to

be c o n s t a n t , a n in c r e a s e in th e d i f f e r e n c e b etw een th e

3 ■ S trengths o f two r e a c t i o n te n d e n c ie s r e d u c e s th e p r o b a b i l i t y t h a t th e s m a lle r w i l l be s e d e n t a r i l y dom inant# The p r e s e n t tr e a tm e n t makes th e a d d i t i o n a l assuujp* t i e s t h a t when two r e a c t i o n p o t e n t i a l s a r e s im u lta n e o u s ly a ro u s e d i n a c o n f l i c t s i t u a t i o n , th e n e t e f f e c t i v e r e a c t i o n p o t e n t i a l (a ir.) i s l e a s th a n when th e dom inant p o t e n t i a l i s a lo n e p r e s e n t , th e co m p etin g te n d en cy a c t i n g to, m b t r a c t from th e m o m e n ta rily d o m in an t r e a c t i o n p o t e n t i a l #

A ccord*

ta g to t h i s f o r m u la tio n th e c o n f l i c t b e h a v io r depends upon th e d i f f e r e n c e i n th e s t r e n g t h s o f th e r e a c t i o n p o t e n t i a l s ( s i r ) an a s h o u ld v a r y w ith th e r e l a t i v e s t r e n g t h s o f t h s s im u lta n e o u s ly a ro u s e d r e s p o n s e te n d e n c ie s #

I t p ro p o s e s

a l s o t h a t th e momentary d i f f e r e n c e in e x c i t a t o r y s t r e n g t h s ( s i r ) m ust ex c ee d th e r e a c t i o n th r e s h o l d i n o r d e r to evoke a re sp o n se #

When a s i n g l e s tim u lu s i s p re s e n te d * H u ll

assum es t h a t th e momentary e f f e c t i v e r e a c t i o n p o t e n t i a l m ust ex c ee d t h e r e a c t i o n th r e s h o ld ( s i r ) b e f o r e a re s p o n s e w i l l o c c u r ( 10}*

She p r e s e n t tr e a tm e n t assum es t h a t in

c o n f l i c t s i t u a t i o n s i t i s th e d i f f e r e n c e b etw een th e e o a p e t* in g te n d e n c ie s w h ich m ust ex c ee d th e th r e s h o ld #

fro m th e s e

a s su m p tio n s i t f o llo w s t h a t a s th e d i f f e r e n c e b etw een two

1#

I n H ull*® sy stem th e e f f e c t i v e r e a c t i o n p o t e n t i a l ( s i r ) i s e x p re s s e d a s t h e d i f f e r e n c e b etw een th e r e a c t i o n p o t e n t i a l ( s i r ) and an i n h i b i t o r y p o t e n t i a l ( I r ) * w here one com ponent o f i r i s a h a b i t phenomenon ( s i r ) * (10)

4 co m p etin g te n d e n c ie s i n c r e a s e s , th e l a r g e r i s n e t o n ly more l i k e l y to b® d o m in a n t, b u t on th e o c c a s io n s when i t i s d o m in an t i s more l i k e l y t o ex c ee d th e r e a c t i o n t h r e s h o l d and evok e i t s re s p o n s e *

And i f th e a m p litu d e and l a t e n c y *St o f r e s p o n s e a r e f u n c tio n s o f s i r co m p arab le t o t h e f u n c t i o n s o f sH r assum ed when a s i n g l e s tim u lu s i s p r e s e n te d ( 10) , th e a m p litu d e o f r e s p o n s e ( t o th e s tim u lu s w ith th e l a r g e r s i r ) sh ou ld in c r e a s e and th e la t e n c y o f r esp o n se d e c r e a se

m

th e d i f f e r e n c e b etw een th e co m p etin g - te n d e n c ie s in c r e a s e s * On t h e b a s i s o f th e s e a s s u m p tio n s c e r t a i n deduo*

t i o n s ©an b e made w ith r e s p e c t t o b e h a v io r in s p a t i a l c o n f lic t s itu a tio n s * ^

I n th e s p a t i a l c o n f l i c t s i t u a t i o n

t h e s u b j e c t i s p r e s e n te d s im u lta n e o u s ly w ith two s tim u li* s e p a r a te d in s p a c e , each o f w hich b# h a s b een p r e v i o u s l y t r a i n e d to a p p ro a c h (a p p ro a c h ^ a p p ro a o h c o n f l i c t s i t u a t i o n ) o r e a c h o f w hich he h a s b e e n t r a i n e d to a v o id (avoidance** a v o id a n c e c o n f l i c t s i t u a t i o n * ) o f g e n e ra lis a tio n *

A cc o rd in g to th e p r i n c i p l e

i f th e s e n s o ry d i s t a n c e (d) i s a f u n c t i o n

o f th e p h y s ic a l d is ta n c e * i t f o llo w s t h a t f o r e a c h s tim u lu s t h e r e i s a g r a d i e n t i n th e s t r e n g t h o f th e response © te n d * ency a s th e s u b j e c t 1a d i s t a n c e from th e s tim u lu s i s v a rie d *

a* fh e p r e s e n t f o r m u la tio n i s b a se d on p r e v io u s f o r m u la tio n s made by M i l l e r ( lb ) and Brown (5* &)* 3* Mo a tte m p t i s made h e r e to t r e a t a p p ro a o h * a v o ld a n o s con­ f l i c t s i t u a t i o n s w hich a p p e a r to r e q u i r e a d d i t i o n a l a s s u m p tio n s (5* 15)#

5 If

s u b j e c t i s b etw een th e two s t i m u l i th e

i m p l i c a t i o n s w ith r e s p e c t t o th e b eh a v io r d i f f e r f o r ap p ro ach a p p ro a c h and svo id a n ce~ a v o ld a n ce c o n f l i c t s i t u a t i o n s #

In

th e fo rm e r s i t u a t i o n * when th e s u b j e c t move© to w ard one s tim u lu s th e te n d e n c y to a p p ro a c h t h a t s tim u lu s i n c r e a s e s i n s tr e n g th * w h ile th e s t r e n g t h o f th e te n d e n c y to a p p ro a c h th e o t h e r s tim u lu s (he m ust s im u lta n e o u s ly more away fro m it)

d e c re a s e s *

I t i s th u s more p r o b a b le t h a t th e s u b j e c t

w i l l c o n tin u e to move to w a rd th e s tim u lu s f i r s t a p p ro a c h e d , s i n c e th e d i f f e r e n c e in th e co m p etin g te n d e n c ie s i s in c re a s e d * th a n t h a t h e w i l l blaelc o r r e v e r s e #

I n a n a v o id a n ce*

a v o id a n c e s i t u a t i o n * on th e o t h e r hand* a re sp o n se to one o f th e s t i m u l i .-roves th e s u b j e c t f u r t h e r from t h a t s tim u lu s and c l o s e r t o th e o th e r *

The d i f f e r e n c e b etw een th e s t r e n g t h s

o f th e com peting te n d e n c ie s i s th u s re d u c e d (o r th e se co n d s tim u lu s may come t o h av e th e l a r g e r s i r ) and th e p r o b a b i l i t y o f a b lo c h o r r e v e r s a l in th e d i r e c t i o n o f movement i s th u s assum ed to be g r e a t e r th a n in a co m p arab le approaefooapproaeh s itu a tio n *

th e p r o b a b i l i t y i n c r e a s i n g a s th e su b je c t* ®

d i s t a n c e from one o f th e s t i m u l i in c r e a s e s #

The b e h a v io r

e x h i b i t e d in an appro®ch*approaeh c o n f l i c t s i t u a t i o n i s th u s e x p e c te d to d i f f e r l e a s from th e a p p ro a c h b e h a v io r t o a s i n g l e s tim u lu s th a n b e h a v io r i n a n a v o id sn ce^ a v o ld a n ce s i t u a t i o n i s e x p e c te d to d i f f e r fro m th e a v o id a n c e b e h a v io r t o a s i n g l e s tim u lu s (1 , 2 , 9)*

I t I s e v id e n t from th e a s s u m p tio n s made t h a t any f a c t o r w h ich in c r e a s e s th e d i f f e r e n c e b etw een th e co m p etin g te n d e n c ie s in a s p a t i a l c o n f l i c t s i t u a t i o n a t th e tim e th e two s t i m u l i a r e p r e s e n te d ( o t h e r th in s ® c o n s ta n t) s h o u ld le a d to a g r e a t e r fre q u e n c y o f re s p o n se * w ith th e r e s p o n s e o c c u rin g more c o n s i s t e n t l y to th e s tim u lu s w ith th e l a r g e r s i r , and an in c r e a s e d a m p litu d e o f movement from th e s t a r t ­ in g p o in t*

I t a l s o f o llo w s t h a t I f th e s tre n g th ® o f th e

g e n e r a l i s e d te n d e n c ie s a r e o f e q u a l s t r e n g t h a t th e s u b j e c t ' s p o s i t i o n when b o th s t i m u l i a r e p resen ted * any f a c t o r w h ich tend® to in c r e a s e th e r a t e w ith w h ich d if fe re n c e ® b etw een th e co m p etin g te n d e n c ie s in c re a se ® w ith movement i n e i t h e r d i r e c t i o n s h o u ld in c r e a s e th e a m p litu d e o f movement to w ard one o f th e s t i m u l i I n a n approfteh^approaeh s i t u a t i o n ( o th e r t h i n g s c o n s ta n t) and re d u c e th e a m p litu d e o r re s p o n s e in a n & voldanee»avoldanee s i t u a t i o n *

Such e v id e n c e a s e x i s t s

w ith r e s p e c t to th e l a s t m en tio n ed p r e d i c t i o n i s n o t c l e a r * c u t (16 )* The p r e s e n t e x p e rim e n t was c o n c e rn e d w ith t e s t in g some o f t h e im p l ic a tio n s o f th e above f o r m u la tio n w ith r e s p e c t t o th e e x p e c te d d if f e r e n c e s in b e h a v io r a® th e p r e d i c t e d s t r e n g t h s o f th e co m p etin g te n d e n c ie s i n a n a v o id a n c e * a v o id a n c e s i t u a t i o n w ere v a rie d #

An avoid a n ce-a v o ld a n ce*

7 r a th e r th a n an app r ©a eh -spp ro a oh c o n f l i c t s i t u s t i on* was u se d w ith th e e x p e c ta tio n o f m a x im iz in g th e d i f f e r e n c e b etw een th e b eh a v io r when b o th s t i m u l i w ere p r e s e n te d and th e b e h a v io r when o n ly one s tim u lu s was p re s e n te d *

8 C h a p te r I I PURPOSE The purpose- o f th e p r e s e n t s tu d y w as to d e te rm in e th e e f f e c t s o f m a n ip u la tin g th e s t r e n g t h s o f co m p etin g te n d e n c ie s upon b e h a v io r In a s im p le m otor c o n f l i c t s i t u a * tio n *

On p r e - c o n f l i c t t r a i n i n g t r i a l s th e s u b j e c t 's ta sk

w as to move h i s hand and arm away from w h ic h e v e r o f two l i g h t s came o n , s t a r t i n g from a r e s t i n g p o s i t i o n b etw een th e two l i g h t s *

On th e c o n f l i c t t r i a l s b o th l i g h t s w ere

tu r n e d on s im u lta n e o u sly and th e s u b j e c t 's r e s p o n s e s w ere re c o rd e d in d e ta il* T h re e e x p e r im e n ta l v a r i a b l e s w ere m anipulated! ( ! ) th e number o f p r e - c o n f l i c t t r i a l s , e a c h o f th e s tim u lu s l i g h t s b e in g p r e s e n te d e q u a lly o f te n $ (£) th e number o f t r i a l s to one l i g h t , w ith th e number o f t r i a l s to th e o t h e r l i g h t c o n s t a n t | and {3) th e d i f f e r e n c e b etw een th e d i s t a n c e s o f th e l i g h t s fro m th e s u b j e c t 's s t a r t i n g p o in t* The t h e o r e t i c a l p u rp o se was t o t e s t th e a s su m p tio n t h a t i n c o n f l i c t s i t u a t i o n s th e m ag n itu d e and d i r e c t i o n o f th e d i f f e r e n c e b etw een th e co m p etin g te n d e n c ie s d e te rm in e th e b e h a v io r*

The t h r e e e x p e rim e n ta l v a r i a b l e s th u s r e p r e s e n t

t h r e e w ays o f v a r y in g th e s t r e n g t h s o f th e co m p etin g te n * d e n o te s a t d i f f e r e n t p o s it io n s in ©pace betw een th e s t i m u l i ,

9 on th e a s su m p tio n t h a t th e g e n e r a l i s e d M b i t s t r e n g t h v a r i e s a© a f u n c t i o n o f th e M b i t s t r e n g t h a t th e a iim M Xus and o f d i s t a n c e from th e s t i m u l u s •

10 c h a p te r I I I B X F B iiM w m frocebube

The s u b je c t© w ere 84 m ale and ©4 fem ale u n d er* g r a d u a te s t u d e n t s , v o lu n te e r© from th e I n t r o d u c t o r y Pay* e c o lo g y and P sy ch o lo g y o f A d ju stm en t course© a t th e S t a t e U n iv e r s it y o f Iowa# B#

A p p a ra tu s Two l i g h t s w ere m ounted on a v e r t i c a l p a n e l to

s e r v e a s a v o id a n c e s t i m u l i , one to th e r i g h t o f c e n t e r , th e o th e r t o t h e l e f t #

I n m aking an a v o id a n c e r e s p o n s e to

e i t h e r o f th e s t i m u l i th e s u b j e c t w as r e q u ir e d to move a knob a lo n g a h o r i z o n t a l s u r f a c e fro m th e c e n t r a l p o s i t i o n tow ard th e o p p o s ite l i g h t # The s tim u lu s p a n e l was c o n s tr u c te d o f plywood {M i n , h ig h and 38 in* w ide) m ounted on a plywood b a s e on a l a b o r a t o r y ta b le *

The b a s e e x te n d e d beyond th e f r o n t

o f th e p a n e l t o s e r v e a© th e s u r f a c e a c r o s s w hich th e s u b je c ts * a v o id a n o © -re a c tio n s w ere made#

A w arn in g s i g n a l

an d a f i x a t i o n p o i n t w ere p ro v id e d by a s i x * v o l t je w e le d p i l o t lam p, c e n te r e d h o r i z o n t a l l y i n th e s tim u lu s p a n e l ©even in c h e s above th e r e a c t i o n s u r f a c e ,

Hole© w ere

d r i l l e d a t a p p r o p r ia te p la c e s i n th e v e r t i c a l p a n e l so t h a t

11 th e s tim u lu s l i g h t s ©ould b e i n s e r t e d e i t h e r fo u r* e ig h t* o r tw e lv e in c h e s on ea ch s id e o f c e n t e r ,

S in c e no more th a n

two l i g h t s w ere i n u se a t one tim e , th e u n f i l l e d h o le s w ere m asked by c a rd b o a rd s t r i p s . The o p e r a t io n o f th e l i g h t s was c o n t r o l l e d by s w itc h e s t h a t p e r m itte d th e s tim u lu s l i g h t s to be tu r n e d on s i n g l y o r s im u lta n e o u s ly * p re c e d e d alw ay s by th e o n s e t o f th e c e n t r a l w arn in g la m p .

The i n t e r v a l b etw een the

o n s e t o f th e w arn in g and s tim u lu s l i g h t s * w hich was a c c u ­ r a t e l y c o n t r o l l e d by a n e l e c t r o n i c tlm e - d e la y c i r c u i t , c o u ld b© v a r i e d betw een on© and f o u r seconds, i n one** second s t e p s , The r e s p o n s e s u r f a c e w as c o v e re d w ith w h ite c a rd b o a rd on w h ich a b la c k s t a r t i n g mark had b e e n in k e d in th e c e n te r d i r e c t l y b e n e a th th e w a rn in g l i g h t .

The s u b j e c t

a v o id e d a s tim u lu s l i g h t by moving a b r a s s knob Cl in c h h ig h and 0 ,5 in c h i n d ia m e te r) a c r o s s th e c a rd b o a rd . A d ju s ta b le wooden s to p s w ere p ro v id e d so a s t o l i m i t th e e x te n t o f

th e a v o id a n c e movement to e i t h e r fo u r* e ig h t*

o r tw e lv e

in c h e s*

away fro m

on© l i g h t *

th e o th e r

lig h t.

When th e s u b je c t moved th e f u l l d i s t a n c e th e b r a s s knob r e s t e d d i r e c t l y u n d e r

The r e a c t i o n knob was s e c u r e ly f a s te n e d t o a f l a t m etal, s t r i p *

th e -ends o f w hich w ere t i e d i n t o an e n d le s s

12 I m p o f cord*

T h is c o rd ran th ro u g h th e wooden s to p s a M

aro u n d a p u l l e y sy ste m to a. w axed p a p e r p o ly g ra p h o s w hich th e s u b je c ts * movements w ere r e c o r d e d w ith a th re e * to ~ o n e r e d u c t io n i s a m p litu d e #

A* 0 #l*»®e$o.nd tim e l i n e was p ro *

v ld e d o s th e w axed pap er* and a s i g n a l m arker was a e s tiv a te d s im u lta n e o u s ly w ith th e o n s e t o f th e s tim u lu s l i g h t { s ) • O*

P ro c e d u re fh e su b je c t® w ere s t a t e d b e f o r e th e s ti m u lu s p a n e l,

d i r e c t l y i n f r o n t o f th e w arn in g l i g h t , w ith one s tim u lu s l i g h t a t th e l e f t and th e o t h e r a t th e r i g h t o f c e n te r* th e knob r e s t e d on th e s t a r t i n g mark* d i r e c t l y b e n e a th th e c e n t e r o f th e s tim u lu s p a n e l#

3&ey w ere i n s t r u c t e d t o

r e a c t to th e o n s e t o f e i t h e r o f th e s tim u lu s l i g h t s b y moving t h e s l i d e r from th e c e n t e r and away from th e I i ; : h t a s q u ic k ly and a s f a r a s p o s s i b l e , r e t u r n i n g th e s l i d e r t o th e c e n t e r when th e l i g h t w ent out#

Betw een t r i a l s 4 th e s u b je c t® w ere t o ld to f i x a t e th e w a rn in g lamp# la o h s u b j e c t th e n r e c e iv e d a number o f a v o id a n c e t r i a l s on w hich th e l i g h t s w ere p r e s e n te d s i n g l y (p ro * c o n flic t tr ia ls ) #

A 10 second i n t e r * t r i a l i n t e r v a l w as

u s e d , and th e s tim u lu s l i g h t rem ain ed on f o r f i v e seco n d s#

4 * The e x a c t i n s t r u c t i o n s g iv e n th e s u b j e c t s a r e c o n ta in e d i n A ppendix A#

ir s The p r e - c o n f l i c t t r a i n i n g was fo llo w e d b y a c o n f l i c t t r i a l on w hich b o th th e l e f t and r i g h t s tim u lu s l i g h t s w ere tu r n e d on s im u lta n e o u s ly *

A fte r t h i s f i r s t

c o n f l i c t t r i a l t h r e e a d d i t i o n a l c o n f l i c t t r i a l s w ere in tr o d u c e d among e i g h t f u r t h e r t r a i n i n g t r i a l s w ith t h e l i g h t s p r e s e n te d s in g ly * The 164 s u b j e c t s w ere a s s ig n e d a t random (13 men and 13 women to a g ro u p ) to th e a©ven © x p e rim e a ta l c o n d i­ t i o n s sum m arised in T a b le 2#

The c o n d i tio n s a r e d i s t i n g u i s h e d

a c c o r d in g t o w h e th e r th e number o f t r i a l s to e a c h s id e o r th e d i s t a n c e betw een th e s t a r t i n g marh ( c e n t e r ) and th e s tim u lu s l i g h t s was th e v a r ia b le *

For th e c o n d itio n s

l a b e l e d Te ( e q u a l t r i a l s t o ea c h l i g h t ) and Tu (u n e q u a l t r i a l s t o e a c h l i g h t ) ea c h s tim u lu s was tw e lv e in c h e s from t h e c e n te r *

Thus* f o r exam ple* f e i

4 -4 i n d i c a t e s

t h a t t h e r e w ere f o u r p r& » e o n £ lto t r e s p o n s e s to e a c h stim u ­ l u s and Tus

0 -1 3 i n d i c a t e s t h a t z e r o p r e - c o n f l i c t r e s p o n s e s

w ere made to one l i g h t and tw e lv e to th e o th e r* s u b j e c t s in C o n d itio n s Du*

4*13 and Dus

The

6r 13 r e c e iv e d

tw e lv e p r e - c o n f l i c t t r i a l s t o e a c h l i g h t , b u t f o r g u t

fe M

one s tim u lu s l i g h t wa© f o u r in c h e s from c e n t e r and th e o th e r tw e lv e in c h e s * and f o r C o n d itio n Dus

S-,lgf one s tim u lu s l i g h t

w as e i g h t in c h e s and th e o th e r tw e lv e in c h e s fro m th e c e n te r *

14 fable I Summary of the Experimental Conditions

No# of Pre~ Conflict Trials C o n d itio n

U l0 x tl

L i& h t^

Distance from Cantor lig h t tj.

L ig h ts

12

M ~m

4 1.z m

4 as

12 in* 12 in* 12 in#

12 in* 12 In*

0-12

0

4 -1 2

4

18

12

12 in# 12 in#

12 In#

12

4 in# 8 in .

12 in* 12 in*

TO i T©& To:

12-12

Tin Tm DuI Dus

4 -1 2 S-XB

IS 12

4 -4

I s 34 for eaoft condition

IS

IB in* 12 in#

15 I t 1b ap paren t t h a t C o n d itio n £gs

l a - i g c o n s t i t u t e s , in

e f f e c t , an extrem e T a lu s o f b oth the Tu and Du c o n d itio n s * H a lf th e s u b j e c t s o f e a c h sa x in tb o c o n d i tio n s in v o lv in g u n e q u a l num bers o f p r e - c o n f l i c t t r i a l s t o th e two l i g h t s mad© th e l a r g e r number o f r e s p o n s e s t o th e l e f t - h a n d s ti m u lu s , th e o t h e r s u b j e c t s to th e rig h t-h a n d s tim u lu s lig h t*

W here one o f th e s tim u lu s l i g h t s w as n e a r e r th e c e n t e r

th a n t h e o th e r# s im ila r ly * th e n e a r e r l i g h t w as th e l e f t hand l i g h t f o r h a l f th e s u b j e c t s o f e a c h s e x , th e r i g h t # h an d l i g h t f o r th e rem ain in g s u b je c ts # A random o r d e r o f a l t e r n a t i o n o f t r i a l s 'to th e two l i g h t s , w as em ployed f o r th e s i x c o n d i tio n s In w h ich b o th s t i m u l i r e c e iv e d p r e - c o n f l i c t t r a i n i n g #

lacfc o f t h e

f o u r d e l a y in t e r v a ls b etw een th e o n s e t o f th e w a rn in g l i g h t and th e o n s e t o f th e s ti m u lu s l i g h t was u se d a n e q u a l number o f tim es# p r o p o r t i o n a t e l y r e p r e s e n te d in th e t r i a l s to l e f t and r i g h t #

Bach s u b j e c t r e c e iv e d , one c o n f l i c t t r i a l

f o llo w in g e a c h o f th e d e la y i n t e r v a l s * e a c h o f th e @4 p o s s i b l e o r d e r s o f d e la y i n t e r v a l s a p p e a r in g once I n e a c h e x p e rim e n ta l c o n d itio n #

F o r a l l s u b j e c t s th e number o f

s i n g l e - l i g h t p r e s e n t a t i o n s betw een s u c c e s s iv e c o n f l i c t t r i a l s w ere* r e s p e c t i v e l y ?

t h r e e , two* an d t h r e e t r i a l s *

A r e s t p e r io d o f 15 se c o n d s w as a llo w e d b e f o r e t h e f i n a l e i g h t p r e - c o n f l i c t t r i a l s f o r th e g ro u p s r e c e i v i n g

16 o r f o u r p r e - c o n f l i c t t r a i n i n g t r i a l s to on© l i g h t an d tw e lv e t o th e o th e r*

The s u b j e c t s r e c e i v i n g IS o r 36 pro**

c o n f l i c t t r i a l s to each l i g h t w ere g iv e n a SO -seoond r e s t b efo re t h e i r l a s t e ig h t s in g l e - l ig h t tr i a l s *

An a d d i t i o n a l

SO -seeond r e s t o c c u rr e d a f t e r th e t h i r t i e t h p r e - c o n f l i c t t r i a l o f th e l a s t group* G ra p h ic r e c o r d in g s to

w ere made o f th e l a s t r e s p o n s e

each l i g h t f o r ea ch d e la y i n t e r v a l and o f th e f o u r con­

f l i c t tria ls * S c o rin g o f j j t f r e c o r d s The f o llo w in g d e f i n i t i o n s w ere u se d i n r e a d in g and s c o r in g th e p o ly g r a p h ic r e c o r d s *

The a m p litu d e m e asu res

a r e h e r e g iv e n i n te rm s o f th e a c t u a l l i n e a r e x t e n t o f th e s u b j e c t 1s movement a lo n g th e i n th e t h r e e :

r e s p o n s e s u r f a c e , r a t h e r th a n

one r e d u c t i o n i n w h ich th e o r i g i n a l r e c o r d s

w ere re a d * {*•) B eacons© *

A d e v i a ti o n o f 3 /1 6 in c h fro m th e

s t r a i g h t l i n e e x t r a p o l a t i o n o f th e s l i d e r ’ s p o s i t i o n p r i o r t o th e o n s e t o f th© s tim u lu s l i g h t ! s ) . (S) l a t e n c y *

The tim e i n 0*1 seco n d from th e o n s e t

o f th e s tim u lu s l i g h t ! a ) a s i n d i c a t e d by th e s i g n a l m arker on t h e p o ly g ra p h to th e p o in t a t w h ich th e s l i d e r d e v ia te d 3 /1 6

In c h

from th e s t r a i g h t l i n e e x t r a p o l a t i o n o f th e s l i d e r ’ s

p o s i t i o n p r i o r to th e o n s e t

o f th e stim u lu s *

17 (s)

m ss*

A d e c r e a s e In s p e e d o f movement d u r in g

w hich th e s l i d e r was moved 3 /4 in c h o r l e s s p e r 1 /iO se c o n d , f o r a t l e a s t 1/a o second#

The d e c r e a s e i n sp a e d o f movement

was d e te rm in e d by a l i n e a r e x t r a p o l a t i o n o f th e p r e c e d in g s e c t i o n o f th e re c o rd # {4)

B e v e rs a l#

a change I n th e d i r e c t i o n o f move*

m n t o f 3 /1 6 in c h o r g r e a t e r # (3 )

I n i t i a l re s n o n s -f»

The d i s t a n c e moved up to

th e p o i n t o f th e f i r s t b lo c k o r r e v e r s a l # {&)

C om pleted r e s p o n s e *

A movement i n on.®

d i r e c t i o n i n w h ich th e s l i d e r r e a c h e d to w ith in 9 /1 6 in c h o f th e b lo c k {or th e l i g h t above th e b lo c k )5 a r e s p o n s e c o v e rin g a l l b u t 9 /1 6 in c h o f th e t o t a l d i s t a n c e p o s s i b l e in one d i r e c t i o n * (7 )

In c o m p le te r e s p o n s e »

A re s p o n s e i n w h ich

th e s l i d e r n e v e r moved t o w ith in 9 /1 6 in c h o f e i t h e r b lo ck # £8 )

Time t £ co m p lete & r e s p o n s e *

The tim e

r e q u i r e d to move th e s l i d e r to a p o i n t 9 /1 6 in c h from one o f th e b lo c k s , m easured from th e s i g n a l m arker# C$)

D ouble r e s p o n s e *

A re s p o n s e i n w hich th e

s l i d e r was moved a t l e a s t 3 /1 6 in c h to e a ch s id e o f th e s t r a i g h t l i n e e x t r a p o l a t i o n o f th e s l i d e r f e p o s i t i o n b e f o r e th e o n s e t o f th e s tim u lu s l i g h t ( s ) #

18 C h a p te r I ? BSS0LT3 m m BISCUSSIGM A*

I f f e c t s o f v a r i a t i o n s i n to e a b s o l u t e s t r e n g t h s o f e q u a l o o m p etla« te n d e n c ie s I n g e n e r a l , th e b e h a v io r o b se rv e d on th e c o n f l i c t

t r i a l s u n d e r t h i s e x p e rim e n ta l v a r i a b l e was found t o a co o rd f a i r l y w e l l w ith t h e o r e t i c a l p r e d i c t i o n , d e v i a t i n g more w id e ly from th e b e h a v io r e l i c i t e d by a s i n g l e s tim u lu s a s th e number o f t r i a l s t o e a c h l i g h t w ere in c r e a s e d from f o u r to 36* T a b le I I p r e s e n t s th e number o f i n d i v i d u a l s in e a c h g ro u p o f 34 S& e x h i b i t i n g th e v a r io u s ty p e s o f b eh av ­ i o r .5

The c a t e g o r i e s o f r e s p o n s e a r e ?

l e s s th a n 5 /1 6 in c h from c e n t e r ;

( 1 ) b lo c k - -movin&

(3) in c o m p le te r e s p o n s e —

moving l e s s th a n th e maximum d i s t a n c e fro m c e n t e r | (3) d o u b le resp o n se* ^ m o v in g a t l e a s t 3/16 in c h on e a c h s id e o f © e n te r; an d ( 4 ) s i n g l e r e a p o n s moving th e maximum d is t a n c e from c e n t e r , in one d i r e c t i o n only*

A lth o u g h th e d i f ­

f e r e n c e s in th e r e l a t i v e fre q u e n c y o f a g iv e n ty p e o f r e s p o n s e i n th e th r e e c o n d i tio n s a r e s l i g h t , i t a p p e a r s

5 . Only th e d a ta f o r th e f i r s t two ( o f th e f o u r) c o n f l i c t t r i a l s a r e p re s e n te d * I t was th o u g h t t h a t , w ith human s u b j e c t s , v a r i a b l e s n o t in c lu d e d i n t h i s f o r m u la tio n w ould e n t e r to d e te rm in e b e h a v io r on s u c c e s s iv e c o n f l i c t tria ls *

19 Table II Humber o f S u b je c ts M aking a G iven Type o f C o n f lic t R esponse a s a F u n c tio n o f th e A b so lu te Humber o f p r e ^ C o n f lic t T r i a l s

C o n d itio n

B lo ck

Type o f R esponse In c o m p le te R ouble S in g le

M edian C a te g o ry

C o n flic t T r ia l 1 Te* fe s T et

4—4 1&-XZ 36-36

6

6

7

8

4

4

10

4 4

8 6

3

D ouble Xne♦-Double In c o m p le te

C o n f lic t T r i a l 2 T e: T e: T e:

MkMkJat

12*1E 56*36

13 15 13

4 4 5

2 B 4

5 5

2

B lock B lock B lock

20 from th e t a b l e t h a t , on th e f i r s t c o n f l i c t t r i a l a t l e a s t , i n c r e a s i n g th e p r e - c o n f l i c t t r a i n i n g s h i f t e d th e c a te g o r y c o r r e s p o n d in g to th e m edian 8 p r o g r e s s i v e l y f u r t h e r from th e s i n g l e r e s p o n s e ty p e o f b e h a v io r# fh e number o f b lo c k s on th e two c o n f l i c t t r i a l s shown i n f a b l e XI w ere a v e ra g e d to g iv e th e d ash ed c u rv e o f fig.# 1#

I t I s e v id e n t t h a t th e l a r g e s t number o f b lo c k s

o c c u r r e d a t Jggx

I3 -1 E i n s t e a d o f a t | g s

36-3$ a s e x p e cte d *

The a v e ra g e a m b e r o f a s c o m p le tin g a re sp o n se , (moving th e maximum d i s t a n c e away from a t l e a s t one l i g h t ) , p l o t t e d a s th e s o l i d c u rv e in f ig ., 1, how ev er, shows a c o n s i s t e n t tr e n d f o r fe w e r 0$ t o co m p lete a r e s p o n s e a s the number o f p r e - c o n f l i c t t r i a l s in c re a s e d # W ith a n e q u a l number o f p r e - c o n f l i c t t r i a l s to th e two l i g h t s i t was e x p e c te d t h a t a b o u t an e q u a l number o f S 3 w ould move away fro m e a c h l i g h t on th e c o n flic t tr ia ls *

I n 'fa b le I I I , c o n t r a r y to expacta**

t i o n , t h e r e a p p e a r s to be some i n d i c a t i o n on th e f i r s t c o n f l i c t t r i a l to w ard an in c r e a s in g p r o p o r ti o n o f i n i t i a l a v o id a n c e s o f th e r i g h t - h a n d s tim u lu s w ith in c r e a s e d p r e ­ c o n f l i c t t r a i n i n g #6

6 * The m a jo r ity o f 8s i n e a c h c o n d i tio n w ere r ig h t- h a n d e d # Of th e s i x le f t - h a n d e d 8s among t h e th r e e c o n d i t i o n s , o n ly one f a i l e d t o make an i n i t i a l re s p o n s e on th e

I NDI VI DUALS OF

10

8

MEAN

12

NUMBER

21

NO R E S P O N S E

C O MP L E T E D

RESPONSE

6 4

NO. OF P R E - C O N F L I C T R E S P O N S E S

F ig * 1

36

12

TO EACH L I G H T ,

HuK&ers o f f a i l u r e s t o re sp o n d and c o m p le te d r e s p o n s e s w ith in c r e a s in g p r e ^ o o n f l i c t t r a i n i n g t o th e two lig h ts * (Mean® o f c o n f l i c t t r i a l s 1 and Z)

22

T a b le 111 Humber o f S u b je c ts Making a n I n i t i a l B esponse A m f From th e l e f t a M E ig h t S tim u lu s L ig h te f o r th e T h re e C o n d itio n s w ith K qual T r a in in g t o th e Two l i g h t s

C o n d itio n

C o n f lic t T r i a l 1

C o n flic t T r ia l S

B ig h t

E ig h t

le ft

le ft

8

11

5

6

13-12

11

6

4

5

36-56

14

0

a

9

Te-t

4 -4

Te: Tei

23 Xu a d d i t i o n to th e f re q u e n c y measure© presented a b o v e ,, th e a m p litu d e o f th e 3 s r i n i t i a l a v o id a n c e r e s p o n s e s ( th e d i s t a n c e moved from © en te r b e f o r e th e f i r s t b lo c k m r e v e r s a l ) arid th e maximum d i s t a n c e a t t a i n e d on e i t h e r s i d e o f c e n t e r w ere reco rd ed * '

The means o f th e s e m easures,,

b a s e d on t h e f i r s t two c o n f l i c t t r i a l s , a r e p l o t t e d In f i g # 3*

f a i l u r e s t o re s p o n d w ere in c lu d e d a s responses

o f z e r o a m p litu d e *

In F ig* 3 th e a m p litu d e o f b o th th e

i n i t i a l and maximum r e s p o n s e s a r e s e e n t o d e c lin e w ith a d d i­ tio n a l p r e - c o n f lic t tra in in g #

The two r e s p o n s e m e a su re s

exhibit th e same form and a r e (ro u g h ly ) n e g a t i v e l y a c c e l ­ e r a t e d , a lth o u g h th e d i f f e r e n c e betw een 'the ex trem e c o n d i­ t i o n s i s s m a lle r and th e o v e r - a l l s lo p e more c o n s ta n t f o r th e maximum r e s p o n s e cu rv e#

I n T a b le IT i t i s e v id e n t

that e x c e p t f o r th e maximum a m p litu d e on th e f i r s t c o n f l i c t tria l,

the. means o f e a c h t r i a l show t he same g e n e r a l form

a s th e a v e ra g e s o f th e two c o n f l i c t t r i a l s *

The m edian

a m p litu d e m e a s u re s , p r e s e n te d i n T ab le V, th o u g h l e s s s t a b l e and c o n s i s t e n t , show l e s s a m p litu d e o f movement f o llo w in g 3d p r e - c o n f l i c t t r i a l th a n fo u r*

f i r s t c o n flic t tr ia l* F our re s p o n d e d to th e l e f t - h a n d l i g h t on th e f i r s t c o n f l i c t t r i a l , and @11 f i v e on th e se c o n d c o n f l i c t - t r i a l * The arm w hich made th e avoid* an c e r e s p o n s e was somewhat c l o s e r to one l i g h t , w hich may s u g g e s t a te n d e n c y to a v o id th e l i g h t n e a r e r th e p r e ­ f e r r e d hand* The s u g g e s tio n i s , how ever, o n ly t e n t a t i v e *

MAXIMUM R E S P O N S E

80

70

OF

RESPONSE

IN

1/16

IN,

24

NI TI AL

RESPONSE

50

MEAN

AMPLITUDE

60

12

4

36

NO, O F P R E - C O N F L I C T R E S P O N S E S T O E A C H L I GH T

fig * Z

Mean a m p litu d e o f i n i t i a l and maximum resp o n se© w ith in c r e a s in g p r e ^ c o n f l i e t t r a i n i n g t o th e two l i g h t s * (Means o f c o n f l i c t t r i a l s 1 and &)

25

f a b l e 1? Mean A m p litu d e o f R esponse in 1 /1 6 in c h a s a F u n c tio n o f I n c r e a s i n g th e Number o f T r i a l s t o Bach l i g h t

c o n d itio n

In itia l R esponse

R esponse C o n flic t T r ia l 1

fe e

Te:

4 -4

12-12

98*31

1 0 8 .5 8

f@:

36-36

6*7*38

93,52

75.47

103. SS

C o n flic t T r ia l 3 fa s Te: Tei

4 -4 18*18 36-36

62*34 3 8 .7 1 2 8 .8 9

63*13 36*68 4 4 .7 6

2G

fa b le V Median Amplitude of Response in 1/16 inch as a Function of Increasing the Humber of Trials to Each Light

Maximum Hespouse

Initial Eoaponeo Condition

Mdn

^

*

Mdn*

Q,g

145*80 1 6 2 ,0 0 75*75

192*00 192*00 192*00

0*00 0*00 0*00

192*00 12 0 ,3 0 122*50

C o n flic t T r ia l 1 Tes Tes T@j

4—4

3*75

12-12

0*00

36-56

7*50

84*75 3 3 .7 5 58* S3

192*00 1 6 7 .3 5 114*60

4 ,5 0

0*00 9*80

C o n flic t T r ia l 3 Tes Tes Te i

4—4 12 -1 3 36-36

0*00 0*00 0*00

0.00 0*00 0*00

1 9 3 ,0 0 5 7 .7 5 7 .5 0

0*00 0*00 0*00

27 The a m p litu d e d i s t r i b u t i o n s w ere i n ea ch c a s e skewed o r b l-m o d a l so t h a t th e M ann-W hltney tJV te st (14)# w hich makes m a s su m p tio n s a b o u t th e d i s t r i b u t i o n s , , was u se d to t e s t th e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f th e d i f f e r e n c e b etw een th e d ie * t r l b u t i o n e o f th e ex tre m e c o n d i tio n s ( is * on th e f i r s t c o n f l i c t t r i a l #

end T e t

1 3 -1 3 )

The d e v i a t e s , shown b elo w , w ere

n o t. s t a t i s t i c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t ( u s in g a sin g le-b en d ed h y p o th e si s)* d e s p i t e th e c o n s is te n c y in . th e t r e n d s o f th e c u r v e s i B ssp o n se In itia l Maximum

%/cr 1*000 0 ,4 0 4

p

0,16 0#S3

The tim e r e q u i r e d to c o l l a t e a r e s p o n s e on th e f i r s t c o n f l i c t t r i a l ( f o r th o s e 3 s who moved th e maximum d i s t a n c e away from one o f th e l i g h t s ) u n d e r e a c h o f th e t h r e e c o n d itio n s * a r e p r e s e n te d i n T a b le V I, S s co m p leted a r e s p o n s e on th e seco n d t r i a l *

S in c e few o n ly th e d a t a

f o r th e f i r s t t r i a l w ere u se d i n d e te rm in in g th e m easu res o f c e n t r a l te n d e n c y .

The M ann-C hitney 0 - t e a t w ith th e

ex tre m e c o n d i tio n s y ie ld e d a norm al d e v i a te o f 0 ,8 3 0 , w ith a p o f 0 * 3 1 , u s in g a s in g le - e n d e d h y p o th e s is ,

The

d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e e n th e d i s t r i b u t i o n s was a g a in i n th e p re d ic te d d ir e c tio n , b u t n o t s t a t i s t i c a l l y s ig n if ic a n t,

28

T ab le 71 Mo-Twmnt Time in S econds on th e F i r s t C o n f lic t T r i a l a s a F r a c t i o n o f I n c r e a s in g th e Humber o f T r i a l s t o Bach l i g h t

C o n d itio n

Mesa

M edian

T el

4 -4

0,88

0 .7 3

Tet

I S ?

t h e o r e t i c a l l y # s in c e th e d e f i n i t i o n

o f a r e s p o n s e r e q u i r e d some movement (3 /1 6 in c h ) from th© c e n t e r , jjg i

sh o u ld hav e shown th e g r e a t e s t p ro p e r*

t i o n o f b lo c k s *

However, w ith su c h a s m a ll d ista n c e - and a

s m a ll number o f Ss th e i r r e g u l a r i t y o f th e n o n re sp o n se curve i n F ig * 1 l a n o t in s e r i o u s d is a g re e m e n t w ith t h e o r e t i c a l e x p e c ta tio n *

I t i s e v id e n t t h a t I f a r e s p o n s e had been

d e f in e d a s moving th e m a x im m -d is ta n c e .from one s tim u lu s ( s o l i d c u rv e i n F ig* 1 ) , w here th e e x p e c t e d 'd i f f e r e n c e s in th e s t r e n g t h s o f th e n o t e f f e c t i v e te n d e n c ie s a r e assum ed t o be maximal# few er r e s p o n s e s w ould have o c c u rre d a a th e

8 * T h is e x p e c ta t io n f o llo w s a l s o from th e assu m p tio n t h a t ©Or v a r i e s a c c o r d in g to th e norm al p r o b a b i l i t y f u n c tio n * l i n e a r in c r e a s e s i n th e d i f f e r e n c e betw een th e com peting te n d e n c ie s a r e n o t e x p e c te d to p ro d u ce l i n e a r in c r e a s e s in th© p r o b a b i l i t y t h a t th e s tr o n g e r w i l l be m o m en tarily dom inant*

34 number o f t r i a l s t o each l i g h t in c r e a s e d .

In g e n e r a l, then

th e b eh a v io r ob served w ith an in c r e a se d number o f p r e c o n f l i c t t r i a l s was c o n s is t e n t w ith th e t h e o r e t ic a l form ula­ t i o n and w ith th® r e s u l t s o f a p r e v io u s ly rep o rted stu d y in w hich th® ty p e o f b eh a v io r e x h ib ite d changed w ith a la r g e r number o f p r e - c o n f l i c t t r i a l s , a g a in w ith ou t s t a ­ t i s t i c a l s ig n if ic a n c e ( 1 6 ) ,

©• M£a&M M variations Aa .the difference in the, number

at j&sraaaSiisi, isisism ite Jamlm nw T h ree c o n d itio n s &r© c o n s id e re d t o r e p r e s e n t d i f f e r e n t v a lu e s o f r e l a t i v e s t r e n g t h s o f th e com p etin g te n d e n c ie s t

th e two c o n d itio n s i n w hich t h e r e w as a d i f ­

f e r e n c e i n th e number o f p r e ^ e o n f i l c t r e s p o n s e s 'to th e two l i g h t s {JJni

Q~lp and JJjlj

feXjB) i and Te:

a s r e p r e se n t­

in g th© m inim al d i f f e r e n c e w ith tw elv e t r i a l s to- on© l i g h t * On th e w hole th e d a t a w ere i n good ag reem en t w ith th e e x p e c ta tio n s b a s e d on th® t h e o r e t i c a l f o r m u la tio n and on p r e v io u s f i n d i n g s (1 6 )* T a b le Y II shows th e change i n th e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f ty p e o f c o n f l i c t b e h a v io r a s th e d is c re p a n c y in th e number o f p r e - c o n f l i c t t r i a l s t o th e two l i g h t s was re d u c e d from tw e lv e to z b t q + The m edian c a te g o r y i s , a s ex p ected * c l o s e r to th e n o n re sp o n se ty p e o f b e h a v io r w ith th e

35

f a b l e TIX Humber o f S u b je c ts M aking a G iven Hype o f C o n f l i c t R esp o n se a s a f u n c t i o n o f t h e D if f e r e n c e i n th e Humber o f P r e * C o n f lle t t r i a l s to th e Two l i g h t s

Type o f Be spans© C o n d itio n

B lock

In c o m p le te

D ouble

S in g le

M edian C a te g o ry

C o n flic t T r ia l 1 Tut Tut T et

0—12 4"*IB

2 6

12-12

S'

3 4 4

10 ft

4

9

a

D ouble Double In c* -D o u b le

C o n f lic t T r i a l 2 T ut

0-12

Tut Tet

4 -1 2

6 11

12-12

16

0 4 4

7 3' ft

ii

6 3

D ouble In c o m p le te B lock

36 p r o g r e s s i v e d eo reas© i n th© d i f f e r e n c e i n p r e - c o n f l i c t tra in in g *

m© m m

o f th e f a ilu r e © to re sp o n d

shown i n Table T i l and th e mean number o f completed r e s p o n s e s a r e p l o t t e d i n Fig.* 4* from w hich i t i s o r i d e n t t h a t e a c h m easu re shows more r e s t r i c t e d movement w ith th® c o n tin u e d i n c r e a s e i n th e number o f t r i a l s t o th e w eaker l i g h t ( t h a t l i g h t w ith fe w e r p r e - c o n f l i c t t r i a l s *)9 ® » number o f Be i n c o n d i tio n s Tnt

g y ig and Tu?

4c &8 who moved away trom th e l i g h t w ith th e t e r s e ? number o f p r e ^ e o n f i i e t t r i a l s ( p r e d i c t e d d i r e c t i o n ) a r e shown i n T a b le T i l l *

f o r b o th c o n d i tio n s more s u b j e c t s moved

i n th e p r e d i c t e d d i r e c t i o n on th e f i r s t c o n f l i c t t r i a l * th e p r o p o r ti o n b e in g somewhat l a r g e r f o r Tut

G^JJ*

By

th e seco n d c o n f l i c t t r i a l th® p r e d i c t i o n no lo n g e r h o ld s f o r Tg.1 J&JJU k u t i s a b o u t a s good f o r Tuso f th© f a c t t h a t more o f th e 3 s o f Tes

Q -IB*

I n vt ©w

18*18 who re sp o n d e d

on t h e f i r s t c o n f l i c t t r i a l (69$) moved away from th e r i g h t hand lig h t * th e p r e f e r e n c e e v id e n t i n T ab le F i l l m ight be a t t r i b u t e d to an i n i t i a l p re f e r e n c e * 91 p e r c e n t (10 v e r s u s 1 ) o f th e Be in Tyti

However*

.grig, re sp o n d e d

9* Hot© t h a t f o r th e two c o n d itio n s w ith a d i f f e r e n c e i n th e number o f tim e s th e s t i m u l i w ere p r e s e n te d ( p o i n t s 0 and 4 i n F ig* 4) th e S s show more co m p leted r e s p o n s e s th a n f a i l u r e s t o re s p o n d , th e r e v e r s e o f th© a p p a r e n t tr e n d in V ia* 1 f o r th e c o n d itio n s w ith e q u a l p r e ^ o o n f l i c t t r a i n i n g t o th® two l i g h t s *

37

15

COMPLETED

RESPONSE

12

MEAN

NO.

OF

INDIVIDUALS

8

9

6 NO

RESPONSE

3

0

4

12

NO. OF P R E - C ON F L I C T R E S P O N S E S TO O N E LIGHT

Fig*. 4

Bombers o f f a ilu r e ® t o re sp o n d and c o m p leted r e s p o n s e s w ith d e c r e a s in g d iffe re n c e in p re ~ c o n flic t tr a in in g t o th # two l i g h t s * (Means o f c o n f l i c t t r i a l s 1 and 8 )

38

TaM@ r a x F re q u e n c y o f R esp o n se s i n th e P r e d ic te d and O p p o site D ir e c tio n s ms a F u n c tio n o f th e D if f e r e n c e in th e ffuaher o f Pr@ *oonfX iet t r i a l s to th e Two L ig h ts

C o n d itio n

P r e d ic te d

O p p o site

C o n f lic t T r i a l 1 Tut $Ut

0*4.3 4*13

3 5

30

X$

C o n f lic t T r i a l Tut T in

0*13 4*13

1? 0

n i

8

39 l a th e p r e d i c t e d d i r e c t i o n on th e f i r s t c o n f l i c t t r i a l , w h e th e r th e s t r o n g e r l i g h t was a t th e l e f t o r th e r i g h t # th e n th e s t r o n g e r l i g h t was a t th e r i g h t , 60 p e r c e n t

(8 v e r s u s $) o f th e 3© in Tu*

4*10 moved i n th e p r e d ic te d

d i r e c t i o n , and 88 p e r c e n t (7 v e r s u s 1 ) moved away from th e l e f t - h a n d l i g h t when i t r e c e iv e d th e l a r g e r number o f tria ls * T h e mean a m p litu d e s o f th e i n i t i a l and maximum

r e s p o n s e s o f th e 8s- i n th e th r e e c o n d itio n s a r e p r e s e n te d i n F ig * 8, w here b o th curves a p p e a r t o he o f th e same form a s th e a m p litu d e f u n c tio n s o b ta in e d b y in c r e a s in g th e u m b e r o f © quel p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f th e two l i g h t s ( f ig * 8) , w ith th e a m p litu d e o f r e s p o n s e l e a s t f o r Te: tf0* M *

J2s!S«

10*18 and g r e a t e s t

(T h is i s a l s o e v id e n t im th e r e l a t i v e f r e ­

quency o f c o m p le te d r e s p o n s e s and f a i l u r e s t o resp o n d shown i n F ig * 4*)

I?h© mean and m edian a m p litu d e o f re s p o n s e on e a c h

c o n f l i c t t r i a l a r e p r e s e n te d i n T a b le s IX and X, r e s p e c tiv e ly * fro m T a b le IX i t a p p e a rs t h a t o n ly th e i n i t i a l re s p o n s e on th© f i r s t c o n f l i c t t r i a l i s o u t o f l i n e w ith r e s p e c t t o t i e © zpeeted tr e n d *

The d i f f e r e n c e s , on th e f i r s t c o n f l i c t

t r i a l , i n th e a m p litu d e d i s t r i b u t i o n s o f Ju s

j h l i and M *

u s in g th e M ana-W hitoey T J-te st and a s in g le - e n d e d h y p o th e s is w ere statistically significant*

140

MEAN

AMPLITUDE

OF

RESPONSE

IN

1/16

IN.

40

120

100

MAXIMUM

RE S P ONS E

80 INITIAL R E S P O N S E

60 0

4

12

NO. OF P R E - C O N F L I C T R E S P O N S E S TO ONE LI GHT F ig . 6

Mean am plitude o f i n i t i a l and maximum re sp o n se s w ith d ecr ea sin g d if f e r e n c e in p r e - c o n f lio t tr a in * in g to th e two l i g h t s . (Means of c o n f l i c t t r i a l s 1 and 3)

41

Table IX Mean Amplitude of fteepoxme in 1/16 Ineh m a Function of the Mfferenoe in the lumber of £re*>eonfllct Triale to the Two Lights

Condition

I n itia l

R esponse

Maximum Beanonse

Conflict T rial 1 Tut Tui

0-18 4-18

Te?

18*18

15?♦ai

130*06 x io * ? a

114#4?

103*85

TO*4?

Conflict Trial 8 Tut 0—18 Tut 4-18 Te?

1 8 -1 8

181*66 ?6#03 88* ?X

136*80

84*96 56*68

42

T a b le X M edian A m p litu d e o f R esp o n se i n 1 /1 6 in c h a s a F u n c tio n o f th e D if f e r e n c e in th e Humber o f P r e - c o n f l i c t T r i a l s t o th e Two lig h t®

I n i t i a l H espouse

Maximum R esponse

C o n d itio n Mdn,

%

%

Mdn,

%

C o n flic t T r ia l 1 Tut Tus Tus

0 -1 2 4 1 ,2 5 1 .5 0 4 -1 2 12-12 0 ,0 0

1 8 3 ,0 0 1 7 0 ,2 5 3 3 ,7 5

1 9 2 .0 0 1 9 2 ,0 0 16 7 ,2 5

192 .0 0 1 ,5 0 0 .0 0

1 92,00 1 9 2 ,0 0 16 2 ,0 0

1 9 2.00 19 2.00 1 9 2 .0 0

1 9 2 ,0 0 5 3 ,0 0 0 .0 0

1 9 2.00 1 9 2 .0 0 12 0,50

C o n f lic t T r i a l Z Tus Tus Te*

0 -1 2 4 -1 2 1 2 -1 2

4 ,5 0 0 .0 0 0 ,0 0

1 9 2 ,0 0 2 7 ,3 0 0 ,0 0

1 9 2 .0 0 174*75 5 7 ,7 5

3 8 ,7 0 0 ,0 0 0 ,0 0

48 Bespo&s® In itia l. Maximum

x / g“

p

2*88$ I *-918

O*00§

0*93

fh® tim e r e q u i r e d to co m p lete a re sp o n s e on th e f i r s t c o n f l i c t t r i a l f o r th e p r e s e n t a p p e a rs

th r e e c o n d itio n s a l s o

from F ig* 6 t o he c o n s i s t e n t w ith

th e e f f e c ts - o f

v a r y in g th e number o f e q u a l p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f th e two l i g h t s and w ith th e tr e n d o f th e a m p litu d e m e asu res, in c r e a s in g a s th e d i f f e r e n c e i n th e number o f t r i a l s to th e two l i g h t s d e c re a se d *

I n ^ a b le I I i t may be n o te d t h a t th e mean and

m edian movement tim e s e v id e n c e d s i m i l a r ch an g es a s th e t r i a l s to t h e w eak er l i g h t in c re a s e d *

th e Mann^Whitnay

U ~ te » t o f th e d i f f e r e n c e b etw een th e d is tr ib u tio n ® o f move** sien t tim e s f o r th e e x tre m e c o n d itio n s y ie ld e d a d e v ia te o f 2*048 an d a p r o b a b i l i t y (singlem ended} o f 0*021* fh e e f f e c t s o f m a n ip u la tin g th e d if f e r e n c e b etw een th e number o f p r e ^ c o n f l i c t p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f th e two lights t h u s a g re e d w ith t h e o r e t i c a l e x p e c ta tio n w ith r e s p e c t to b o th th e c o u n tin g and th e c o n tin u o u s m easu res o f conflict* b e h a v io r ,

T h e o r e t i c a l l y i t i s assum ed t h a t th® g r a d ie n t

fro m th® l i g h t w ith th e c o n s ta n t number o f t r i a l s rem ain ed a p p ro x im a te ly c o n s t a n t , and t h a t th e h e i g h t , e x t e n t , and e lo p e o f th e o p p o s ite g r a d i e n t d e c re a s e d a s th e number ©f a v o id a n c e resp o n se ® to th e l i g h t d e c r e a s e d ,

The g r a d i e n t s

MEAN

MOVEMENT

TIME

IN S E C O N D S

44

0.9

0,7

0,5

0

4

12

NO. OF PRE- CONF LI CT R E S P O N S E S TO ONE LIGHT

F ig* 6

Mean m m m m t tlm© on c o n f l i c t t r i a l 1 ? jtth d e c r e a s in g d i f f e r e n c e I n p r e * e e n f l i e t t r a i n i n g to th e two lig h ts *

45

T ab le XI Mmmmxkt Time in S econds on th e F i r s t C o n f lic t T r i a l a s a f u n c t i o n o f th e D if f e r e n c e in th e number o f Fre*eonfliet T r i a l s to th e Two l i g h t s

C o n d itio n

Bean

M edian

%

%

Tus

0 -1 2

0*55

0 *49

0 ,3 5

0*64

10

Tus

4 -1 2

0*8?

o*e»

0 .4 3

1*01

15

Tes

18*1z

1*02

0*?5

0 ,4 8

1*56

12

n

4fi w ar# c o r r e s p o n d in g ly e x p e c te d to c r o s s f a r t h e r from c e n t e r and th e d i f f e r e n c e i n th e r e l a t i v e s t r e n g t h s o f t h e co m p etin g te n d e n c ie s to in c r e a s e a s th e d is c r e p a n c y in th e number o f t r i a l s to th e two l i g h t s in c re a s e d # * ^

P resum ably,, th e n ,

th e p r o b a b i l i t y t h a t th e momentary te n d e n c y to a v o id th e s t r o n g e r l i g h t (more t r i a l s ) would exceed th e co m p etin g te n d e n c y by a superthreshold am ount in c r e a s e d , so t h a t a g r e a t e r fre q u e n c y o f r e s p o n s e , and a n increased c o n s is te n c y l a th e d i r e c t i o n o f th e i n i t i a l a v o id a n c e w ere e x p e c te d , w ith a r e d u c t io n in th e p r e ^ c o n f l i c t t r a i n i n g to one o f th e lig h ts *

The d a t a p r e s e n te d l a T a b le s V II and V I I I a r e i n

l i n e w ith t h e o r e t i c a l e x p e c ta tio n * The p r e d i c t i o n o f a n In c r e a s e d a m p litu d e o f r e s p o n s e and a d e c re a s e d movement tim e a l s o f o llo w , s in c e

10* T h is i s d e v e lo p e d a s fo llo w s* w here Bt r e p r e s e n t s th e S f s d i s t a n c e from th e w eaker l i g h t an a % h i s d is t a n c e from th e s t r o n g e r l i g h t , Eh ■< Bg, sHr^ i s th e h a b i t s t r e n g t h o f t h e w eak er l i g h t , and sH rs th e h a b i t s t r e n g t h o f th e s t r o n g e r l i g h t * The n e t e f f e c t i v e te n d e n c y ( s i r ) I s assum ed to b e :

s i r g sBr^ ©

- sHrs e

f o r a c o n sta n t d is ta n c e o f f - c e n te r , IK and B*> a re c o n s ta n ts , and s in c e ©,. 3, ©nd sBTg a re a ls o c o n sta n ts! e~4f(B£) £ a, and sHrg e

* o

and s i r may be expressed as a d ir e c t fu n c tio n of th e sHr o f th e weaker stim ulus* s ir

m

a sHr^ - c

47 th e tesutenoy t o ay o ld th e l i g h t w ith th e l a r g e r number o f t r i a l e s h o u ld have e x c ee d ed th e co m p etin g te n d e n c y a t p r o g r e s s i v e l y s m a lle r d i s t a n c e s fro m th e w eak er s tim u lu s a s th e d i f f e r e n c e i n th e p r e ^ o o n f l i c t t r a i n i n g in c r e a s e d . From F i g . 5 an d 6 i t i s e v i d e n t t h a t th e a m p litu d e and tim e m e a su re s a r e a l s o c o n s i s t e n t w ith t h e o r e t i c a l e x p e c ta ­ t i o n b a s e d on th e p r e d i c t e d r e l a t i v e d iffe re n c e ® in h a b i t s t r e n g t h s a s a f u n c t i o n o f th e number o f t r i a l s to th e two l i g h t s , an d w ith th e a c c e l e r a t i o n o f th e c u rv e s o b ta in e d by m a n ip u la tin g th e a b s o lu te number o f t r i a l s

(e q u a l) t o

th e two l i g h t s . ^ . c

f o o t s o f v a r i a t i o n in th e d i s t a n c e s from th© a v o id a n c e s tim u li The t h e o r e t i c a l tr e a tm e n t of th e v a r i a b l e s in flu e n c e

in g b e h a v io r i n c o n f l i c t s i t u a t i o n s l e d t o th e p re d ic tio n ® t h a t a s t h e d is t a n c e b etw een e i t h e r o f l i g h t s and th e c e n te r w as r e d u c e d , th e p r o p o r ti o n o f r e s p o n s e s away from t h a t l i g h t w ould i n c r e a s e , t h a t th© a m p litu d e o f movement w ould a l s o i n c r e a s e , b u t t h a t th e tim e r e q u ir e d to co m p lete a r e s p o n s e would d e c r e a s e .

I f th e two c o n d itio n s i n w h ich

1 1 . I t may a l s o be n o te d t h a t , by and l a r g e , c o n d itio n !e s 4 - 4 e x h i b i t e d b e h a v io r more d e v ia n t from th e b e h a v io r evoked by a s i n g l e s tim u lu s th a n d id c o n d i­ t i o n Tu: 4-1.&.

48 o m o f t h e l i g h t s w as n e a r e r th e c e n te r th a n th e o t h e r a r e c o n s id e r e d a l o n e , th e d a ta a r e b y - a n d - la r g e in l i n e w ith w h at w as e x p e c te d *

However, Te*

18*12. a s one l i m i t i n g

c o n d i t i o n w ith th e same number o f p r e - c o n f l i c t t r i a l s to e a c h l i g h t , d o e s n o t f i t in a s p r e d i c t e d w ith th e o t h e r c o n d itio n s * T ab le H I p re se n t© th e d i s t r i b u t i o n s o f th e ty p e s o f r e s p o n s e s o b se rv e d on th e f i r s t and seco n d c o n f l i c t t r i a l s f o r each o f th e th r e e c o n d itio n s *

fteduoing th e d ie #

tanc© b etw een th e c e n t e r and one l i g h t d o es n o t a p p e a r t> have p ro d u c e d a c o n s i s t e n t e f f e c t on th e m edian c a te g o r y o f re s p o n s e *

The number o f su b je ct© b lo c k in g on th e f i r s t

c o n f l i c t t r i a l in c r e a s e d w ith r e s p e c t to Dus Hus

8 - 1 8 * b u t Dus

th a n Tjgs

4 -1 8 and

8 -1 8 p ro d u ced more f a i l u r e s t o re sp o n d

1 8 -1 2 * The d i r e c t i o n o f th e i n i t i a l a v o id a n c e r e s p o n s e

w as n o t p r e d i c t e d a c c u r a t e l y on e i t h e r c o n f l i c t t r i a l f o r th e 8 s o f J& i

8 -1 8 and w as in l i n e w ith p r e d i c t i o n o n ly

on th® f i r s t c o n f l i c t t r i a l f o r th e S s o f

J& U *

f r e q u e n c i e s o f movements away from th e n e a r e r l i g h t (P re d * ) and d i s t a n t l i g h t (O pp.) on th e f i r s t two c o n f l i c t t r i a l s w ere a s f o llo w s s

49

T a b le X II Humber o f S u b jec t© Making- a G iven Type o f C o n f lic t B esp o n se m a F u n c tio n o f th© D is ta n c e o f E ach L ig h t from th e C e n te r

Type o f B esponee C o n d itio n

B lo ck

In c o m p le te

B auble

S in g le

M edian Category

C o n f lic t T r i a l 1 4 -1 2 Dus Te:

8-13 13-12

5

8

11

1 4

8

9 4 4

n

Inc# Inc ♦— Double Ino .— Double

C o n flic t T r ia l Z Bus Out fe i

4 -1 2

14 14 15

1 4 4

i 3 3 K#W W

8 3

B lock B lock B lock »M nriSeiumta

50 frim l 1 Fred* Opp*

C o n d itio n Bui Bui

13 7

4 -1 8 8 -1 8

T ria l a Fred* OPP

6 6

3 6

7 4

As i n d i c a t e d in P a r t A o f t h i s s e c t i o n ! th e s * a p r e f e r r e d hand was c l o s e r to one l i g h t when th e l i g h t s w ere e q u id i s t a n t from c e n te r * and t h e r e was a te n d e n c y f o r th e 3 s w ith e q u a l t r a i n i n g to move away from th e l i g h t n e a r e r th e p r e f e r r e d hand*

However, t h e r e a p p e a re d to he im & iea-

t i o n to w ard b e t t e r p r e d i c t i o n o f th e d i r e c t i o n o f th© i n i t i a l re s p o n s e when t h e n e a r e r l i g h t w as on th e s id e o f th e 8 * s p r e f e r r e d hand th a n when i t w as on th e o p p o s ite s id e f o r e i t h e r fifit

4 - 1.8 o r Du:

g~lg*

t h e mean and m edian a m p litu d e o f th© i n i t i a l and maximum r e s p o n s e s away from th e n e a r e r l i g h t ar© p r e s e n te d i n t a b l e 1111*

F a i l u r e s t o re sp o n d w ere in c lu d e d a s re s p o n s e s

o f z e ro a m p litu d e , b u t r e s p o n s e s t o th e d i s t a n t l i g h t w ere n o t in c lu d e d f o r figi

4 -1 2 and B p

8 -1 8 « s in c e su ch re s p o n s e s

w ere r e s t r i c t e d t o d i f f e r e n t d is ta n c e s *

B ecause o f t h e

s m a ll number o f 8 s m oving i n th e p r e d ic te d d i r e c t i o n on th e se co n d t r i a l , o n ly th e d a ta o f th e f i r s t c o n f l i c t t r i a l a r e p r e s e n te d *

B oth th e m eans and th© m edians ©how th e

a n t i c i p a t e d d e c r e a s e i n th e a m p litu d e o f th e I n i t i a l and maximum r e s p o n s e s o f jftj:

8 -1 2 a s com pared w ith Du:

4 -1 8 ;

51

fa b le X III A m p litu d e o f B eaponsa i n 1 /1 6 t m h f o r th e B u b je o te t h e Moved M & f tto m th e B e a re r B ig h t on C o n f l i c t t r i a l I

Mean

C o n d itio n

Median

%

n

186*00 121*50 J 16^*25

18 IB M'

I n i t i a l Response Du? Bus

4 -1 2 8 -1 2

72*70 46*78 ____

'

f S ’* S '?

8 9 ,8 5 0 ,0 0 ___OjlSO...._..........0 , 0 5 .. B s .? s

^ .o F

r “

Maximum R esponse Bus Bus: fes

4 -1 2 8-1B 12-12

108*71 64*08 XOS. 8 8

1 1 9 ,8 5

6 ,0 0

0 .0 0 I S s . o ’5

0 ,0 0 0 ,0 0

192*00 192*00 192 * W

20

19 2%

52 b u t tli® 8® o f Tgt

J&&8-I who -were e x p e c te d to move th e

l e a s t d i s t a n c e frora c e n t e r e x h i b i t e d a b o u t th e same a m p li­ tu d e o f r e s p o n s e a s th e S© o f Pus

jfclg *

t h e n orm al

d e v i a t e s c o r r e s p o n d in g to th e M ann-ifhitney U*s f o r th e a m p litu d e c o m p a riso n s , and th e p r o b a b i l i t i e s o f t h e i r b e in g ex c ee d ed i n th e p r e d i c t e d d i r e c t i o n a r e p r e s e n te d below, (on th e l e f t f o r th e i n i t i a l r e s p o n s e s , and on th© r i g h t f o r th e maximum r e s p o n s e s ) t C om parison luta-ia > Din;8~iB > f e 512-12 >

x /c r

p

DUS4-12 -1.535 0*0? fe a a -lB -1*385 0 .9 1 Du 14 -1 2 -0.2-6? 0*40

Only f o r th e co m p ariso n s in v o lv in g Jggi

x /o r

p

-1*65? 0*05 -1 .5 1 4 0*93 -0*141 0*45 8 - l g do th e d if *

feren o e© a p p ro a c h s t a t i s t i c a l s i g n i f l o a n e e . The mean and m edian tim e s r e q u ir e d to co m p lete a r e s p o n s e away from th e n e a r e r l i g h t on th e f i r s t con­ f l i c t t r i a l a r e p r e s e n te d i n T ab le 2XV*

A gain the g r e a t e s t

ch an g e in b e h a v io r a p p e a r s to have o c c u rre d i n Du? The 8 s i n c o n d itio n Te*

8 -1 2 *

1 2 -1 2 to o h lo n g e r to co m p lete a

r e s p o n s e ( I n e i t h e r d i r e c t i o n ) th a n th e 3 s i n c o n d itio n gu:

4**13. b u t th© d i f f e r e n c e In th e d is tr ib u tio n ® w ere

n o t s t a t i s t i c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t , a c c o r d in g to th e TT-teat* The d e v i a t e s o b ta in e d from th e co m p ariso n s o f th e th r e e d i s t r i b u t i o n s w ere a s fo llo w s}

53

T a h le XX? Movement Time xu if02? tb.® Stih o 0 1 a ?TJio Movod th e Maximum D is ta n c e away from th e H e a re r B ig h t on O o n f l ie t T r i a l X

Condition

Mean

Median.

%

%

n

Bus

4 -1 2

0 .7 2

0*60

0 ,3 7

1 ,2 3

7

Bui

8~12

1 ,8 3

1 .5 5

1 .0 7

2 ,9 2

5

T et

12*12

1*02

0*76

0,4,8

1 .8 6

12

54 C om parison Dui 4 -1 2 > Bus8 -1 2 T©sl 2~12 > Du:8 -1 2 D u:4 -1 3 > T e :1 2 -1 2

x /c r 3 .3 5 4 ■1*789 1 .0 1 4

P O.Ol 0 .9 6 0 .1 6

I t was e x p e c te d t h a t th e b e h a v io r f o llo w in g th e

p resen ta tio n o f th e two s t i m u l i w ould b© i n c r e a s i n g l y d i f f e r e n t from th e b e h a v io r evoked by a s i n g l e s tim u lu s a s th e d i f f e r e n c e i n th e d i s t a n c e s b etw een th e c e n t e r and th e l e f t - a n d r i g h t - h a n d l i g h t s w as r e d u c e d .

T h is fo llo w e d

from th e assumption t h a t moving one l i g h t c l o s e r to th e c e n t e r w ould in c r e a s e th e h e i g h t o f it© g r a d i e n t so t h a t i t s r e l a t i v e s t r e n g t h a t th e c e n te r w ould be greater th a n th© s t r e n g t h o f th© co m p etin g tendency t and th© g ra d ie n t® w ould i n t e r s e c t b etw een th e c e n te r and th© more d i s t a n t lig h t.

D e c re a s in g th e d i s t a n c e b etw een one l i g h t and 8 s 1

s t a r t i n g p o i n t was th u s e x p e c te d to have th© same e ffe c t® a s i n c r e a s i n g th e d i f f e r e n c e b etw een th e number o f p r e ­ c o n f l i c t t r i a l s to l e f t and r i g h t .

The c o n d itio n w ith th®

g r e a t e s t d is c r e p a n c y b etw een th e r e s p e c t i v e d is t a n c e s o f th e l i g h t s from th e c e n te r* then* sh o u ld have shown th© g r e a t e s t fre q u e n c y o f re s p o n s e in th e p r e d i c t e d d i r e c t i o n * th e l a r g e s t a m p litu d e o f resp o n se * and th© s m a l l e s t move­ m ent tim e .

However* v a r i a t i o n s i n th© d is t a n c e o f one

l i g h t from c e n t e r , w h ile h o ld in g th® o th e r l i g h t a t a

55 c o n s t a n t d i s t a n c e , d id n o t le a d t o th e p r e d i c t e d r e s u l t s # C o n d itio n J&n

Q-1S. w hich s h o u ld h av e b e e n b etw een th e

o t h e r two c o n d itio n s w ith r e s p e c t to th e v a r io u s r e s p o n s e m e a su re s te n d e d to -e x h ib it th e m ost ex tre m e b e h a v io r* T h ere w as l i t t l e d i f f e r e n c e b etw een th e ex trem e c o n d i t i o n s , w hich s h o u ld h av e shown th e g r e a t e s t d i f f e r e n c e s in b e h a v io r# I t m ust be em p h asized t h a t a d d i t i o n a l a s su m p tio n s w ere made f o r th© p r e s e n t e x p e rim e n t, w hich a r e I r r e l e v a n t to th e g e n e r a l a p p ro a c h to c o n f l i c t b e h a v io r o u t l i n e d by M i l l e r (10} and Brown (3 , 5)*

S p e c i f i c a l l y , i t h a s b een

assum ed t h a t th e s t r e n g t h o f th e a v o id a n c e te n d e n c y v a r i e d w ith th e d is t a n c e o f th e S ?s hand from th e s ti m u lu s , and t h a t a g r a d i e n t o f h a b i t s t r e n g t h o f maximum h e i g h t a t th© s tim u lu s was e s t a b l i s h e d , even th o u g h th e a v o id a n c e move-* m ent began some d is t a n c e from th© s tim u lu s*

T hese a s su m p tio n s

a r e a r b i t r a r y and do n o t fo llo w from th e p r i n c i p l e o f p rim a ry s tim u lu s g e n e r a l i z a t i o n ( 1 0 ) , a lth o u g h th e m a jo r ity o f th© f i n d i n g (A an d B) a r e c o m p a tib le w ith th e a s s u m p tio n s .

56 Chapter V

s » i ! A t o t a l o f 84 m ale an d 84 fem a le s u b j e c t s w ere em ployed in a sim p le m o to r a v o id a n c e -a v o i& a n c e c o n f l i c t s itu a tio n #

The a p p a r a tu s c o n s is te d o f a v e r t i c a l p a n e l

w ith a c e n t r a l f i x a t i o n p o i n t on each a id e o f w h ich was a s tim u lu s l i g h t *

On th e p r e - c o n f l i c t t r i a l s th e s u b j e c t

moved h i s hand a lo n g a r e s p o n s e s u r f a c e b e n e a th th e s tim u lu s l i g h t s away from w h ic h e v e r l i g h t cam© on* s t a r t i n g from a r e s t i n g p o s i t i o n b etw een th e l i g h t s #

On th e c o n f l i c t

t r i a l s b o th l i g h t s w ere tu r n e d on and th e su b je c t* © b e h a v io r was g r a p h i c a l l y re c o rd e d * a©

s u b j e c t s w ere d iv id e d i n to sev en g ro u p s o f S4

8 s each* a c c o r d in g to w h e th e r th e num bers o f t r i a l s to th e two l i g h t s o r th e d i s t a n c e s betw een th e l i g h t s and th e s t a r t i n g p o in t w ere v a rie d #

When th e p r e - c o n f l i c t t r a i n *

in g was v a r i a b l e th e two l i g h t s w ere each tw elv e in c h e s fro m c e n te r *

1?he s u b j e c t s i n a l l c o n d itio n s w here d is t a n c e

was th© v a r i a b l e r e c e iv e d tw e lv e p r e - c o n f l i c t t r i a l ® to e a c h lig h t*

'Three e x p e rim e n ta l v a r i a b l e s w ere m a n ip u la te d ?

(1 ) th© a b so lu t© number o f p r e - c o n f l i c t t r i a l s * e q u a lly d iv id e d b etw een th e two l i g h t s (4 f IS* o r 36 p r e - c o n f l i c t p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f each s tim u lu s ) ! (S) th© number o f t r i a l s

57 to on© l i g h t , w ith th e number o f t r i a l s to th e o t h e r l i g h t c o n s t a n t {18 p r e ^ o o n f l i e t p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f one l i g h t and 0 o r 4 p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f th e o t h e r l i g h t ) $ and (3) th e d i s t a n c e o f one l i g h t from th e s t a r t i n g p o i n t , w ith th e d i s t a n c e o f th e o t h e r l i g h t from th© s t a r t i n g p o i n t c o n s ta n t (IS in c h e s betw een th e s t a r t i n g mark and one l i g h t , and 4 o r 8 in c h e s betw een th© o t h e r l i g h t and th e s t a r t i n g m a rk )* One o f th e se v e n c o n d itio n s (w ith th e l i g h t s e q u i d i s t a n t from th e c e n t e r and tw e lv e p r e ^ e o n f l i c t t r i a l s t o each l i g h t ) was c o n s id e r e d to b e lo n g u n d er each o f th e t h r e e e x p e rim e n ta l v a r ia b le s * F o r th e f i r s t two c o n f l i c t t r i a l s th e e f f e c t s o f m a n ip u la tin g th e e x p e r im e n ta l v a r i a b l e s may he b r i e f l y sum m arised a© fo llo w s* (1)

I n c r e a s in g th© number o f p r e ^ e o n f l i o t t r i a l ©

te n d e d t o in c r e a s e th e d iffe re n c e © between th® b e h a v io r e x h i b i t e d when b o th lig h t© w ere p r e s e n te d and th® b e h a v io r e l i c i t e d by th e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f a s i n g l e s tim u lu s , a lth o u g h th e fre q u e n c y o f f a ilu r e © to re sp o n d was g r e a t e s t f o r th e m id d le c o n d i t i o n .

The fre q u e n c y o f co m p leted r e s p o n s e s and

t h e mean a m p litu d e o f b o th i n i t i a l an d maximum response© d e c r e a s e d , w h ile th e tim e r e q u ir e d t o co m p lete a re s p o n s e in c re a s e d *

A lth o u g h c o n s i s t e n t trend© w ere e v id e n t i n t h e

58 data, th e d if fe re n c e © between th e e x tre m e c o n d itio n © on th e f i r s t c o n f l i c t t r i a l w ere n o t s t a t i s t i c a l l y sig n ific a n t# As t h e number o f p r e - c o n f l i c t t r i a l s to one o f th e l i g h t s d e c re a se d * th e number o f f a ilu r e ® to re sp o n d d e c r e a s e d , more co m p leted r e s p o n s e s w ere made, and th e p r o p e r

tio n o f r e s p o n s e s t o th e lig h t w ith th e l a r g e r number o f p r e - c o n f l i c t p r e s e n t a t i o n s in c r e a s e d s l i g h t l y #

The a m p li­

tu d e o f th e i n i t i a l and maximum responses in c r e a s e d and th e tim e r e q u i r e d to co m p lete a re s p o n s e d e c re a s e d as th e d if ­ f e r e n c e i n th e number o f t r i a l s to e a c h l i g h t d e c re a s e d to aero#

The d i f f e r e n c e s b etw een th© d is t r ib u t io n © o f th e

e x tre m e c o n d i tio n s w ere s t a t i s t i c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t f o r a l l th r o e c o n tin u o u s m easu res on th e f i r s t c o n f l i c t t r i a l . {3)

Of th e t h r e e c o n d itio n s w here th e d is t a n c e

b etw een th e s tim u lu s l i g h t s and th e c e n t e r was v a r i e d , th e m id d le c o n d i tio n te n d e d t o e x h i b i t th e m ost ex trem e b e h a v io r , w ith more f a i l u r e s to re s p o n d , a s m a lle r a m p litu d e o f i n i t i a l and maximum r e s p o n s e s , and a g r e a t e r tim e to co m p lete a r e s p o n s e th a n e i t h e r o f th e ex trem e c o n d itio n s *

I n g e n e r a l,

on th e f i r s t c o n f l i c t t r i a l , th e d iffe re n c e © b etw een th e d is t r i b u t i o n © o f th e m id d le c o n d itio n and e i t h e r o f th e ex trem e c o n d i tio n s w ere s t a t i s t i c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t , w h ile d if f e r e n c e ® b etw een th© d i s t r i b u t i o n s o f th© o th e r two c o n d itio n © w ere n o t s t a t i s t i c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t #

The d a t a w ere d is c u s s e d w ith r e s p e c t to t h e i r i m p l i c a t i o n s f o r th e f o r m u la tio n t h a t c o n f l i c t b e h a v io r d epends upon th e d i f f e r e n c e b etw een com p etin g tendencies and t h a t th e r e l a t i v e s t r e n g t h s o f th e te n d e n c ie s can b e p r e d i c t e d according to th© g r a d i e n t o f g e n e r a l i z a t i o n in s p a tia l c o n f lic t s itu a tio n #

GO w m ssm oT sa 1*

A n d re as, 3* G ., M otor r e s p o n s e s a s a tim e tio n o f ty p e o f c o n f l i c t , grcjtc* Iowa A oad. §e&#, 1950* ( in p r e s s )

2*

B a rk e r, H« G*, An e x p e rim e n ta l stu d y o f th e r e s o l u t i o n o f c o n f l i c t by c h i l d r e n ; tim e e l a p s in g and amount o f v i c a r i o u s t r i a l and e r r o r b e h a v io r o c c u rrin g * I n MeN&oar, Q,** and M e r r ill* M* A* S tu d ie s in P e r s o n a lity * Hew T ork sMcGr &w- H i l l , 1942* 1 !

5*

Brown, J . S *, F a c t o r s d e te rm in in g c o n f l i c t r e a c t i o n s i n d i f f i c u l t d is c r i m in a tio n s * £* e x o e r * P s y c h o l* * 1942, 33, 272*292*

4*

. _,..... .... .. The g e n e r a l i s a t i o n o f ap p ro a c h re s p o n s e s a s a f u n c tio n ' o f s tim u lu s i n t e n s i t y and s t r e n g t h o f m o ti v a ti o n . J* comp* P s y c h o l, , 1942, S3, 209*255.

5*

G r a d ie n ts o f ap p ro a c h and a v o id a n c e r i ^ o n s e s a m t h e i r r e l a t i o n to l e v e l o f m o tiv a tio n * £* oomo* n h v s i o l * P s y c h o l, . 1948, 4 1 , 450-465*

6*

Brown, 9", S . , K n a u ft, E . B ., k Bosenbaum, G ., The a c c u r a c y o f p o s i t i o n i n g r e a c t i o n s a s a f u n c tio n o f t h e i r d i r e c t i o n and e x te n t* Amer. J , P s y c h o l** 1948, 6 1 , 167*182* -

7*

B u g e ls k i, B*, & M i l l e r , If* 1 , , A s p a t i a l g r a d i e n t i n th e s t r e n g t h o f a v o id a n c e re s p o n s e s * J* e x p e r* p g y g h o l*. 1938, 23 , 494*505. ~

8.

F e s t i n g e r , L . , S tu d ie s in d e c is io n ; I . D e c is io n * tim e , r e l a t i v e fre q u e n c y o f judgm ent, and s u b je c ti v e con* f id e n c e a s r e l a t e d to p h y s ic a l s tim u lu s d if f e r e n c e * £* £££§£• P s y c h o l* * 1943, 32, 291*306.

9*

Bov la n d , 0* I . , & B e a rs , H. B*, E x p erim e n ts on m otor c o n f l i c t ; 1 . Types o f c o n f l i c t and t h e i r modes o f r e s o l u t i o n . £ . e x o e r * P s y c h o l. . 1938, 23 , 477*493*

10,

B u l l , 0 . 1 . , P r i n o i n l e s o f B e h a v io r. C e n tu ry , 1943*

li* b S IS v io r 'th e o r y .

D, A ppleton*

The pro b lem o f s tim u lu s e q u iv a le n c e i n P s y c h o l. Bey*, 1939, 46 , 9*30.

61 12,

. ... , . S im ple t r i a l - a n d - e r r o r l e a r n i n g ; A s tu d y In p s y e h o lo g ie a 1 t h e o r y , P sy ch o l# B ey, , 1930, 37 0 4 1 -3 3 7 ,

13#

K&uffmann, E# 1# & M i l l e r , M* I # , The e f f e c t o f number o f r e in f o r c e m e n ts on s t r e n g t h o f a p p ro a c h i n a n a p p ro a c h a v o id a n c e c o n f l i c t , J , Comp» P s y c h o l, , 1 9 4 9 , 4 2 , 6 5 -7 4 ,

14,

Mann, H* B , , & W h itn ey , D# B* , On a t e s t o f w h e th e r one o f two random v a r i a b l e s s t o c h a s t i c a l l y l a r g e r th a n th e o th e r * Ann* m a th * S t a t i s t , , 1947, 28, 5 0 -6 0 ,

15#

M i l l e r , 1* K*. Experimental s t u d i e s in c o n f l i c t , l a jr# Me?* H unt (Ed*) P e r s o n a l i t y _&.qd th e b e h a v io r d i s ­ o r d e r s , Hew Y orktB o n S 'S p r 'e s s , 194*4#

16*

S e a r s , B* B, A. B o v lsu d , C* I . , E x p e rim e n ts on m otor c o n f l i c t ; I I * D e te rm in a tio n o f mode o f r e s o l u t i o n by c o m p a ra tiv e s t r e n g t h s o f c o n f l i c t i n g r e s p o n s e s , J , e x p e r , P& yohol#* 1 941, 28, 380-286*

17,

S p en ce , K* ??*, The n a t u r e o f d i s c r i m i n a t i o n l e a r n i n g l a a n im a ls* P s y c h o l* Bev»* 1936, 4 3 , 427-449#

62 i n s t r u c t i o n s to t h e su bjec ts Th® f o llo w in g i n s t r u c t i o n s w ere r e p e a te d a lo u d to each S t

This i s a n e x p e rim e n t to d e te rm in e how q u ic k ly you can r e a c t to a l i g h t * The l a r g e l i g h t s in f r o n t o f you a r e c a l l e d s tim u lu s l i g h t s * When a s tim u lu s l i g h t come® on* you a r e to r e a c t by moving t h i s s l i d e r from th e s t a r t i n g mark and away from th e l i g h t j u s t a® q u ic k ly a® you can an d j u s t a s f a r a® you c a n . f o r exam ple, when th© s tim u lu s l i g h t a t y o u r r i g h t comes on* move t h e s l i d e r away from i t a t once a s f a r a s i t w i l l , go | l i k e t h i s (demons t r a t i ng) ~ * th© s l i d e r c a n ’ t he moved an y f a r t h e r th a n th e sto p * Keep th e s l i d e r away from th e l i g h t a s lo n g a s th e l i g h t i s o n , an d when th e l i g h t g o e s o u t r e t u r n to th e s t a r t i n g mark and g e t r e a d y f o r y o u r n e x t t r i a l * Ton may ta k e y o u r tim e i n r e t u r n i n g to th e s t a r t * S i m i l a r l y , when th e s tim u lu s l i g h t a t y o u r l e f t come® o n , move away from i t a s q u ic k ly and a® f a r a® you c a n {d e m o n s tra tin g )* and rem a in away from th e l i g h t a s lo n g a s i t i s on# T ry to r e a c t a® q u ic k ly a s p o s s i b l e , 1 w il l keep a r e c o r d o f y o u r r e a c t i o n tim e*«**To h e lp you to r e a c t f a s t e r , th e l i t t l e g re e n lamp w i l l a c t a® a w arn in g sig n a l) i t alw a y s comes on b e f o r e a s tim u lu s l i g h t # So b etw een t r i a l s you w atch th e w arn in g lam p, and when i t come® o n , g e t re a d y to r e a c t to th e o n s e t o f th e s tim u lu s l i g h t * Try to r e a c t t© th e l i g h t th e moment i t come® on an d move away from i t a® q u ic k ly a s p o s s ib le ****Any q u e s tio n s ? # •** H old th e h a n d le o f th e s l i d e r w ith y o u r p re~ f e r r e d h a n d , and u se th e same hand on a l l t r i a l ® # . * . P l e a s e do n o t a s k q u e s tio n s o r make comments on ce we s t a r t * ^ u s t remember to move away from th e l i g h t a® q u ic k ly and a® f a r a® you c a n , and s ta y away from th e l i g h t a s lo n g a s i t i s oxw*« "Beady?