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Self-punitive behavior in humans: Effects of a self-fulfilling prophecy

Publication ,  Journal Article
Rose, JE; Fantino, E
Published in: Learning and Motivation
January 1, 1981

Human subjects were exposed to contingencies which programmed aversive tones (100 db). Two types of contingencies were employed: self-confirming (i.e., self-fulfilling prophecies), in which the aversive tone was occasioned by the prediction it was about to occur; and self-disconfirming, in which the tone was probable when subjects predicted it would not occur. Experiments 1 and 2 used a modified classical conditioning paradigm, and demonstrated that a self-confirming contingency maintained reliable self-punitive responding, i.e., subjects consistently predicted and therefore obtained tones on every trial. Subjects in Experiment 3 were instructed to express predictions continuously throughout four sessions to ensure adequate sampling of the various predictions. Subjects exposed to a self-disconfirming contnngency reliably evidenced awareness of the contingency in effect (judged by answers on a postexperimental questionnaire), whereas subjects exposed to a self-confirming contingency failed to show effective avoidance behavior or contingency awareness. Experiment 4 investigated free-operant self-punitive behavior, utilizing a single prediction response button, which subjects depressed repeatedly. Subjects were exposed to either periodic or aperiodic punishment schedules over as many as four sessions. In general, more persistent self-punitive responding was found in the groups receiving periodic punishment. The results from the four experiments show that self-confirming contingencies can effectively prolong self-punitive responding in human subjects. The findings are consistent with a blocking interpretation of self-punitive behavior, which asserts that when an aversive event is already predicted by stimuli in the situation (including temporal cues), the association between a response and punishment is impaired, and self-punitive responding is likely to be maintained. An integration of human and animal self-punitive research is proposed. © 1981.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Learning and Motivation

DOI

ISSN

0023-9690

Publication Date

January 1, 1981

Volume

12

Issue

2

Start / End Page

212 / 238

Related Subject Headings

  • Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 5202 Biological psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1303 Specialist Studies in Education
 

Citation

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Rose, J. E., & Fantino, E. (1981). Self-punitive behavior in humans: Effects of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Learning and Motivation, 12(2), 212–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/0023-9690(81)90019-9
Rose, J. E., and E. Fantino. “Self-punitive behavior in humans: Effects of a self-fulfilling prophecy.” Learning and Motivation 12, no. 2 (January 1, 1981): 212–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/0023-9690(81)90019-9.
Rose JE, Fantino E. Self-punitive behavior in humans: Effects of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Learning and Motivation. 1981 Jan 1;12(2):212–38.
Rose, J. E., and E. Fantino. “Self-punitive behavior in humans: Effects of a self-fulfilling prophecy.” Learning and Motivation, vol. 12, no. 2, Jan. 1981, pp. 212–38. Scopus, doi:10.1016/0023-9690(81)90019-9.
Rose JE, Fantino E. Self-punitive behavior in humans: Effects of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Learning and Motivation. 1981 Jan 1;12(2):212–238.
Journal cover image

Published In

Learning and Motivation

DOI

ISSN

0023-9690

Publication Date

January 1, 1981

Volume

12

Issue

2

Start / End Page

212 / 238

Related Subject Headings

  • Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 5202 Biological psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1303 Specialist Studies in Education