非关联性正负强化条件对迷信行为习得的影响差异

The Effect of Non-contingent Negative and Positive Reinforcement Operations on the Acquisition of Superstitious Behaviors

迷信行为对社会、个人生活都有着重要影响。对迷信行为的产生机制进行详细的研究,对现实生活有重要意义。本研究以两个实验探究了非关联性的正负强化条件对于迷信行为习得的影响差异。在第一个实验中,72名参与者被指导通过指定反应键去完成图片任务,正强化条件组的任务是使令人愉悦的图片(IAPS)尽可能多地出现在屏幕上并保持图片尽可能长时间地显示。负强化条件组的任务则是使令人厌恶的图片(IAPS)尽可能少地出现在屏幕上并尽可能快地使其从屏幕上消失。第二个实验是音乐操作实验,在第一个实验的基础上改变了刺激持续时间。本研究同时考察了刺激固定间隔时间对迷信行为习得的影响,发现间隔时间和强化条件有交互作用。结果显示,负强化条件下参与者更容易产生控制幻觉,并且相对于较短的间隔时间,较长的时间间隔条件下负强化条件组和正强化条件组的差异会更大。基于这样的结果,我们可以更加准确地预测迷信行为的发生,并充分制定干预、教育方案对大众进行影响。

Superstitious behaviors,as exceedingly common phenomenon,take place frequently in our daily life,which can have either negative or positively effect on people's life. In addition,they can jeopardize moral education in colleges and schools. For example,the superstitious phenomenon may make people rather vain about their prediction or even cause people to kill others in fear. Therefore,it's extremely essential to investigate the mechanism of the occurrence of superstitious behaviors. There are two major psychological theories which can explain the mechanism of the occurrence of superstitious behaviors. They are behavioral sect and cognitive sect. From the perspective of behavioral sect,Skinner proposed the accidental reinforcer-response pairings account,and after that,other psychologists addressed control illusion,a vital concept in the superstitious field,and presented control heuristic theory and regulatory focus explanation from the cognitive perspective. However,there are drawbacks in both explanations,so we need a more integrated account for the procedure of superstitious behaviors. Based on two experiments,this research examines the differential effects of non- contingent positive and negative reinforcement operations on the acquisition of superstitious behaviors.In the first experiment,72 participants were randomly and evenly divided into four groups,including the positive group( 6s),positive group( 3min),the negative group( 6s) and negative group( 3min). All participants were instructed to try to produce and / or keep the positive pictures( all from IAPS) on a computer screen( positive reinforcement),or try to prevent and /or remove the negative pictures from the screen( negative reinforcement) by using response keys. In the second experiment music experimental material( all were pre-tested) was used,and the stimuli schedule was different from the first experiment while other conditions remained the same. For instance,all 80 participants were randomly and evenly separated in four groups: the positive group( 6s),positive group( 3min),the negative group( 6s) and negative group( 3min). All participants were instructed to try to produce and / or keep the positive music on a computer audio amplifier( positive reinforcement),or try to prevent and / or remove the negative music from the audio amplifier( negative reinforcement) by using response keys. Data from the two experiments indicated that participants exposed to lean schedules of negative reinforcers believed that they had greater control over non- contingent stimulus events than participants exposed to either rich or lean schedules of positive reinforcers. These findings suggest that,compared to positive reinforcement,negative reinforcement operations may provide a more fertile condition for the development and maintenance of superstitious behaviors. And compared to rich schedule,lean schedule seems to make participants believe there was more control than rich schedule under the negative reinforcement operations,but the data show the opposite variation direction of illusion of control under the positive reinforcement operations. These conclusions will help us to predict the future tendency of the occurrence of superstitious behaviors more accurately. Meantime,this can help us to adjust the moral educational programs for students in colleges and schools.