Task Difficulty and Noncontingent Reinforcement Schedules as Factors in Self-Reinforcement

Effects of baseline self-reinforcement behavior and training level on posttraining self-reinforcement behavior.

“…A comparison of current findings with those reported by Dorsey, Kanfer, and Duerfeldt (1971) points to a major difference in SR behavior if a contingent as opposed to a noncontingent feedback procedure is employed during training. While both procedures lecl to increases in CSRs with increases in external feedback, increases in ISRs with increases in external feedback occurred only when the noncontingent feedback technique was used.…”

Effects of task and experimenter feedback on the self-reinforcement behavior of internals and externals.

“…Internals received 54% selfreinforcement and 57% experimenter reinforcement, and externals received 70% self-reinforcement and 63% experimenter reinforcement. Dorsey, Kanfer, and Duerfeldt (1971) and Duerfeldt (1967a, 1967b) have shown that self-reinforcement rate is strongly influenced by prior experi-ence with experimenter reinforcement. However, the effects are influenced by the perceived relevance of experimenter reinforcement.…”

Levels of self and external influence in self-reward

“…Kanfer's research has found that one's rate and accuracy of selfreward tends to be similar to the rate and accuracy of external re ward one has previously received (Bartol & Duerfeldt, 1970;Kanfer, Bradley & Marston, 1962;Kanfer & Duerfeldt, 1967b;Dorsey, Kanfer & Duerfeldt, 1971;Simkins & Kingery, 1970). Self-reward rates tend to be either unrelated or negatively related to self-punishment rates in the same person (Kanfer & Duerfeldt, 1967b;Kanfer, Duerfeldt & LePage, I969).…”

“…In addition, no consistent definition of self-reward or selfpunishment has been used across the various laboratory analogue stud ies, Hence, in the following review, self-reward and self-punishment are defined as the application of an appetitive or aversive stimulus following a response. The stimulus may be self-selected, selfadministered, or self-managed (e.g., Bass, 1972;Skinner, 1953;Thoresen & Mahoney, 197^;Weiner & Dubanoski, 1975)• Self-applied consequences in laboratory analogue studies have included tangible (e.g., candy), conditioned (e.g., a green light), and covert (e.g., self-commendation and self-criticism) stimuli (Weiner & Dubanoski, 1975;Dorsey, Kanfer & Duerfeldt, 1971;Haynes & Kanfer, 1971;respectively). In the present review, the terms reinforcer and reward are used synonymously.…”