Main Theories of Adversive Control

The main theories of aversive control consist of two-factor theory, operant theory, cognitive theory, and biological theory.

Of these four theories, it is generally agreed that two-factor theory is the dominant theory within the group. This is largely due to the fact that the theory sees avoidance and punishment aspects of aversive conditioning as belonging to both Pavlovian and operant influences, thus the nomenclature two-factor theory.

In the instance of a bright light presented prior to a shock, the shock is then escaped, creating a reinforcer—the shock is disrupted. As each shock is escaped, a Pavlovian conditioning begins to form through the association of the light with the shock until finally a pairing is formed. At this stage the light has come to represent fear to the subject, who will now seek to escape the fear-associated CS. However, escape from the CS basically equates to avoidance of the US. As such, the two-factor theory of avoidance appears to show that in reality avoidance is not actually avoidance, but rather escape from a CS paired with the initial shock. In other words, because escape is vital for successful avoidance behavior, the theory holds that Pavlovian, as well as operant elements, manage and support avoidance.

In fact, two-factor theory will even account for a Pavlovian CS when no stimulus is presented. In this case time comes to represent the CS. If the US occurs at regular intervals, the simple passage of time will come to serve as a CS.

Regarding punishment in the two-factor theory, this Pavlovian conditioning must bring about fear within the subject. When the punished response is made the subject will experience fear, however, should the subject experience any response other than the punishment res...

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...theory resembles the previous theories in many ways. Emphasis is the distinguishing factor of this theory, and that emphasis is on a set of defensive responses that Bolles maintains every species has. He called these species-specific defense reactions, or SSDFs. While SSDFs may occur randomly, it is thought that they most likely follow a hierarchical scale.

In biological theory a response resembling an SSDF would result in fast learning, whereas a response that does not would result in the opposite.

When looking closer at the relationship between biological theory and cognitive theory we can see that though similar in some respects, biological theory most definitely stands apart. In short, where cognitive theory will lead one to what happens after a response is occurring, the focus of biological theory lay in what determines the early occurrences of those responses.