Differences Between Motivating Operations and Stimulus Control

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary related to the concepts of Motivating Operations and Stimulus Control in ABA.

Motivating Operation (MO)

A condition that alters the value of a consequence and can evoke behavior.

Stimulus Control (SD)

When a specific antecedent reliably evokes behavior due to previous reinforcement.

Reinforcement Availability

The indication that a consequence is accessible, typically signaled by an SD.

Value Alteration

The change in the desirability of a consequence that a MO can cause.

Current Frequency of Behavior

The immediate rate at which a behavior occurs, influenced by the motivating operation.

Antecedent

A stimulus or event that precedes a behavior, which can be a MO or SD.

Behavior

The action that is influenced by MOs and SDs.

Consequence

The outcome that follows a behavior, which can be affected by MOs.

Evocation

The process by which behavior is elicited by an antecedent.

Discriminative Stimulus (SD)

A cue that indicates the availability of reinforcement for a behavior.

Motivating Operation (MO) vs. Stimulus Control (SD)

MOs change the value of consequences, while SDs signal the availability of those consequences.

Thirst as a Motivating Operation

An increase in the value of water; prompts behavior to seek water.

Behavioral History

The past reinforcement experiences that lead to reliable evocation of behavior in the presence of an SD.

Example of MO and its effect

After a workout, craving carbohydrates increases their value but doesn't guarantee availability.

Key Distinction

MOs focus on value changes, while SDs focus on signaling availability.