Quantitative studies of "conflict." II. The effect of "conflict" upon the general activity of the white rat

The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of conflict in an experimental situation upon the activity of the rat outside that situation. Of 22 rats, 11 were subjected to a difficult brightness discrimination in a jumping apparatus, and 11 were kept as controls. All rats lived in individual cages, and their activity was recorded automatically and expressed in terms of 5-minute periods for statistical treatment. During the 24 hours following experimental sessions in which at least 4 errors occurred the total activity as well as the light/dark activity ratio of the experimental rats decreased significantly as compared with similar periods following errorless sessions. "There was some indication that the decrease in total activity might parallel the number of errors occurring during the respective sessions." "The finding of primary significance in this study is the demonstration that although no marked symptom of "neurotic' breakdown appeared in the rats' behavior in the "conflict' situation, there were definite and quantifiable changes in the general activity pattern."