Human Avoidance Behavior Research Articles

Human Collision Avoidance Behavior as a Function of Visibility, Traffic Density Electronic Aiding and Type of Information Displayed

Licensed Captains of 80,000 DWT oil tankers were tested on a real time computerized simulator in order to evaluate their collision avoidance behavior in the open sea. Visibility, Traffic density, Navigational aid, and Type of information displayed were manipulated experimentally in order to assess the effects of these variables upon the human's performance in potential collision situations. The findings indicated that a computerized collision avoidance system greatly reduced the danger of collision in poor visibility and in high traffic density whereas the possibility of collision was increased using radar in poor visibility and high traffic density. Furthermore, it was found that a meaningful graphic display of information was responsible for the improved performance as compared to a visual alphanumeric display of target ship information.

Evidence for a spatial gradient of avoidance behavior in humans.

The functional relationship between human avoidance behavior and spatial proximity of a fear stimulus was studied by allowing 4 adults to control the approach of a fear stimulus. The probability of avoidance behavior, defined as stopping the approach of the fear stimulus, increased as the distance between Ss and the fear stimulus decreased. These results suggest that a gradient model may be an adequate conceptual framework for some human avoidance behavior.

The relationship between punishment and unavoidability in eliminating avoidance behavior in humans

Recent research has indicated that elimination of a persistent avoidance response (AR) is facilitated by an unavoidability procedure, wherein the noxious stimulus (NS) is presented on all trials whether an AR occurs or not, but it is facilitated even more by punishment wherein the NS is presented only following an AR. The unavoidability and punishment procedures were conceptualized as extremes on a continuum designated as the percentage of nonresponses followed by the NS. Thus, four groups (N = 13) of undergraduates received the NS following each AR made during the elimination phase, but they differed with respect to the percentage of nonresponses followed by the NS: 0% (punishment), 25%, 75%, and 100% (unavoidability). Several measures of performance during the elimination phase indicated significantly greater persistence as the percentage variable increased. These results were taken as supporting the original conceptualization.

Effects of a reduction in reward magnitude on active avoidance behavior in humans

Human Ss actively avoided a tone previously paired with a decrease in monetary incentive magnitude and consequent negative contrast effects more often than did individuals the tone associated with the control group’s lower quantity of reward. These data agree with the notion that at the human level, negative incentive contrast effects are explainable in terms of an aversive motivation response.

Acquisition variables in human avoidance behavior

Human Ss were given avoidance training employing a blast of pressurized air directly behind the ear as the aversive stimulus, a button depression as the avoidance response, and a light as the warning signal. The contents of four sets of instructions were varied with regard to the “information about the study.” Better avoidance performance was obtained for the more informed conditions. The use of an escape contingency was not critical to response acquisition. Resistance to extinction appeared quite strong, and the suddenness of conditioning resembled all-or-none learning.

The effects of temporal variables on the acquisition of human avoidance behavior

Human Ss were given avoidance training employing a blast of pressurized air directly behind the ear as the noxious stimulus, a button depression as the avoidance response, and a light as the warning signal. In this experiment, signal duration and trace interval were factorially manipulated in a manner that also permitted interstimulus interval comparisons. The most striking effect of these temporal variables was on avoidance latency, where longer latencies were associated with longer ISIs. Resistance to extinction appeared quite strong, and the suddenness of conditioning resembled all-or-none learning. The similarity of these results to previous findings and their significance were discussed.

The phobic test apparatus: An objective measure of human avoidance behavior to small objects

An apparatus is described which measures human avoidance behavior to small phobic objects (e.g. a snake). Data are provided which suggest that the three behavioral measures employed, number of button presses (a distance measure), latencies between presses, and contact-non contact of the test object are all sensitive fear indices. The methodological and procedural advantages achieved through use of the apparatus are discussed.

Response cost and the aversive control of human operant behavior.

The effects of cost (point-loss per response) upon human avoidance, escape, and avoidance-escape behavior maintained by PLPs (point-loss periods) were investigated. Cost had a marked but differentially suppressive effect upon responding under all schedules. The greatest number of PLPs taken under cost occurred on the escape schedule. In most instances PLPs were more frequent on the avoidance-escape schedule than on the avoidance schedule under cost. Inferior avoidance performance appeared only under cost conditions. Under no-cost, all subjects (Ss) successfully avoided all PLPs after the first hour of conditioning. These results indicate that the development and maintenance of human avoidance and escape behavior may, in part, be dependent upon response cost conditions. Aversive control of human operant behavior may be limited without an adequate specification of response-cost conditions.