Deprivation level and frustration in the rat: Effect of deprivation level on persistence of the partial reinforcement effect

Assigned 27 male albino rats to 2 groups which received spaced-trial acquisition with either continuous or partial reinforcement, and a 3rd group which received massed trial acquisition and partial reinforcement. Ss were tested under high and low food deprivation conditions. Following spaced acquisition under high food deprivation, a partial reinforcement effect was not obtained in massed extinction under high deprivation but was obtained in subsequent massed extinction under low deprivation. Results can be understood by assuming that lowering deprivation level reduces the intensity of frustrative stimuli associated with massed nonrewarded trials. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).