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Operant and classical conditioning of cutaneous vasomotor dilation : a comparison of methodologies with internal and external locus of control subjects

thesis
posted on 2023-05-27, 00:12 authored by Dragutinovich, Steven
The present research investigated the relation between locus of control (LOC) and operant and classical conditioning of cutaneous (digital) vasomotor dilation. Ten internal and ten external LOC subjects with equal numbers of males and females were selected on the basis of scores obtained on the Self-Control dimension of Reid and Ware's (1974) Three-Factor Internal-External Scale. Eysenck's Personality Questionnaire was administered following subject selection. All subjects experienced a biofeedback and a classical conditioning session in a within-subject control design. Analyses indicated that classical conditioning obtained larger blood volume (BV) vasodilation response magnitudes than the operant procedure. External LOC subjects tended to demonstrate superior BV vasodilation in both conditioning operations. Interactional results were not significant although group means were consistent with the hypothesized directions. In response size order, the largest BV vasodilation magnitude was exhibited by the external-classical group, followed by internal-classical, external-operant, and internal-operant. No correlation was observed between extraversion-introversion and vasodilation performance. Transfer trials replicated the trends evident in the experimental period, albeit with diminished response magnitude. Post-experimental questionnaire data supported experimental results: both groups considered classical conditioning was more helpful for increasing hand warmth, although most subjects preferred the biofeedback procedure. It was concluded that clinicians should seriously consider employing respondent technology in conditioning treatments of peripheral vascular disorders. Future research implications along these lines were proposed.

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Copyright 1982 the Author - The University is continuing to endeavour to trace the copyright owner(s) and in the meantime this item has been reproduced here in good faith. We would be pleased to hear from the copyright owner(s). Bibliography: leaves 185-208. Includes: Multidimensional internal-external locus of control : preliminary Australian data / S. Dragutinovich and G.V. Wilson. Thesis (M.Psych.)--University of Tasmania

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