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The applicability of inescapable shock as a source of animal depression.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Wagner, HR; Hall, TL; Cote, IL
Published in: J Gen Psychol
April 1977

Male rats (N = 27) were given initial experience with escapable shock, equivalent amounts of inescapable shock, or no shock. Measures were then obtained in the ensuing 15 hours on food intake, water intake, number of cage crossings, and weight change for all groups. Following this, animals were tested on an escape task. Inescapably shocked animals showed significant decreases in food and water consumption in comparison to both nonshocked and escapably shocked control rats. Weight gains were significantly decreased by exposure to shock irrespective of the availability of a coping response. Consistency of these findings with proposals suggesting that exposure to inescapable shock leads to a state of animal depression (learned helplessness) is discussed and compared to alternative stress explanations.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

J Gen Psychol

DOI

ISSN

0022-1309

Publication Date

April 1977

Volume

96

Issue

2d Half

Start / End Page

313 / 318

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Stress, Psychological
  • Rats
  • Motor Activity
  • Motivation
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Experimental Psychology
  • Escape Reaction
  • Electroshock
 

Citation

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Wagner, H. R., Hall, T. L., & Cote, I. L. (1977). The applicability of inescapable shock as a source of animal depression. J Gen Psychol, 96(2d Half), 313–318. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221309.1977.9920828
Wagner, H. R., T. L. Hall, and I. L. Cote. “The applicability of inescapable shock as a source of animal depression.J Gen Psychol 96, no. 2d Half (April 1977): 313–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221309.1977.9920828.
Wagner HR, Hall TL, Cote IL. The applicability of inescapable shock as a source of animal depression. J Gen Psychol. 1977 Apr;96(2d Half):313–8.
Wagner, H. R., et al. “The applicability of inescapable shock as a source of animal depression.J Gen Psychol, vol. 96, no. 2d Half, Apr. 1977, pp. 313–18. Pubmed, doi:10.1080/00221309.1977.9920828.
Wagner HR, Hall TL, Cote IL. The applicability of inescapable shock as a source of animal depression. J Gen Psychol. 1977 Apr;96(2d Half):313–318.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Gen Psychol

DOI

ISSN

0022-1309

Publication Date

April 1977

Volume

96

Issue

2d Half

Start / End Page

313 / 318

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Stress, Psychological
  • Rats
  • Motor Activity
  • Motivation
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Experimental Psychology
  • Escape Reaction
  • Electroshock