A method of animal experimentation is presented by means of which the satisfactions of a primary need can be associated with various sensory symbols and then frustrated or rendered conflictive by controlled experimental means. The results indicate that effective, unequivocal and adequately adaptive behavior patterns leading to the satisfaction of a primary need can readily be established in the cat. These patterns can then be associated with various sensory stimuli or symbols, which thereafter can themselves initiate the behavior responses. Direct mechanical frustration of a consummatory behavior pattern, such as feeding, results in the progressive extinction of the behavior itself and of the 'meaning' of its associated or conditional symbol. Frustrations