EAB 3002 Chapter 9 and 10

Motivating Operations

An environmental or biological event that does two things:

temporarily alters the value of a specific reinforcer

Increases or decreases the probability of behavior that yields that reinforcer

Establishing Operations

Temporarily increases the value of a specific reinforcer and increases the probability of behavior that yields that reinforcer.

Abolishing Operations

Temporarily decreases the value of a specific reinforcer and decreases the probability of behavior that yields the reinforcer.

Identifying potential reinforcers

Reinforcer surveys

Stimulus preference assessments

Breakpoint

maximum amount of behavior the reinforcer will maintain

Dimensions of Effective Reinforcers

Contingency

Reinforcer Size

Reinforcer Quality

Reinforcer Immediacy

Punisher

a contingent consequence that decreases the future likelihood of behavior

Punishment

The process or procedure whereby a punisher decreases the future probability of a response

Positive Punishment

The addition of a stimulus contingent on a response that decreases the future likelihood of that response.

Negative Punishment

The removal, reduction, or prevention of a stimulus that decreases the future likelihood of behavior.

Time-Out from Positive Reinforcement

A signaled response-contingent suspension of a positive-reinforcement contingency, the effect of which decreases the probability of a problem behavior.

Response Cost

The removal or reduction of a reinforcer contingent on a response. Removing items contingent on incorrect responding.

Primary Punisher

A contingent consequence that functions as a punisher because, in the evolutionary past of the species, this consequence decreased the chances of survival.

Conditioned Punisher

A contingent consequence that signals a delay reduction to a backup punisher.