Reinforcement Preferences and Personality Profiles of Hospitalized Schizophrenics

Abstract

The Reinforcement Survey Schedule developed by Gutela and Kastenbaum was applied to a random sample of hospitalized schizophrenics from several different wards of a state hospital. A personality test designed to identify the strengths of various emotional dispositions was also used. The most highly reinforcing items for the population as a whole were being entertained by TV, movies, or radio; babies; children; and happy people. Reinforcement preferences for men and women were quite different on a number of items. Results from the personality test indicated that schizophrenic patients who exhibit affect of any type (positive or negative) have more reinforcement preferences than those who are relatively apathetic. Cautela and Kastenbaum (1967) have developed a Reinforcement Survey Schedule which is designed to identify stimuli that people find reinforcing. These authors state that the schedule can be useful For institutionalized patients as well as others. The dzra of Merbauln (1963) and Mandler and Kaplan (1958) suggest that reinforcing stimuli which are preferred, are more effective conditioners than those which are not.The purpose of the present study was to use the schedule to determine reinforcement variables which might be used effectively in behavior modification programs concerned with the treatment of schizophrenic pacients. Measures of personality were also obtained. Three basic issues were examined: ( 1 ) types of reinforcement that are reported to be most desired by mental hospital pacients, ( 2 ) differences between men and women in their reinforcemenc preferences, as well as in their personality profiles, and ( 3 ) relationships between reinforcement preferences and personality measures. METHODThe patients were chosen randomly from the listing of a ward roster. In all, 50 patients were approached on several different wards, but 10 pacients refused to cooperate.Ss, most of whom were diagnosed as chronic schizophrenics, were 20 male and 20 female patients at Bronx State Hospital. The male patients had a median length of hospitalization of 17 mo., while the females had a median of 14 mo. of hospitalization. The mean age of the women was 36 yr., and the mean age of the men was 39 yr. None of these differences were significant.Each patient was given two questionnaires, one to assess personality, the other to assess reinforcement preference. For reinforcement, Cautela and Kastenbaum's Reinforcement Survey Schedule (1967) was used. The questionnaire