Decreases in Behavior in Vicarious Reinforcement Procedures

Results of past research on vicarious reinforcement are mixed. Some researchers have reported an increase in the frequency of modeled behavior, others have reported no change, and still others have reported a decrease. If a subject imitates a model whose behavior is reinforced, and the subject's behavior is not then followed by reinforcement, the procedure is extinction. In the present study kindergarten children who received direct reinforcement following working on a picture puzzle increased their rate of correct placement of puzzle pieces. 10 of 12 observer-subjects, also working on picture puzzles, showed a decrease in their rate of correct placement of puzzle pieces. Observer-subjects also had a significantly higher rate of verbal behaviors classified as attention getting, complaints, and aggression, than the subjects whose behavior was directly reinforced. These results support the hypothesis that nonreinforcement of the vicariously reinforced subject's behavior helps account for the mixed results described in previous research.