AFTER‐EFFECTS OF PUNISHMENT ON HUMAN BEHAVIOUR

Abstract

Six groups of humans were employed to examine the effect of two different training schedules—continuous or partial (50 per cent) reward—on a response which subsequently received one of three treatments (continuous or partial punishment, or no punishment control). Treatments continued until the response met a criterion of inhibition, and post‐treatment after‐effects were assessed by trials which administered no reward or punishment. Punishment condition (P < 0·001) and training (P < 0·001) effects were evident during the treatment period. The response trained via partial reward was more resistant to suppression, and treatments administering more frequent punishments achieved faster suppression. Evidence from the after‐effects period indicated a single main effect of training (P < 0·0001). In spite of the fact that subjects were identical in performance at the conclusion of treatment, those previously trained under partial reward displayed a much stronger response. This finding appears to pose problems for the traditional learning theory view that habits are strengthened by reward and weakened by punishment. An alternative interpretation, employing the notion of feedback or information about behaviour conveyed to the subject by reward, non‐reward and punishment, is discussed.