Stimulus Control & 3-Term Contingency

What is stimulus control?

When the rate of a behavior is higher in the presence of a particular stimulus than when that stimulus is absent.

What is a discriminated operant?

Behavior that occurs more often under some antecedent conditions than others.

What is an discriminative stimulus (SD)?

A stimulus that signals that reinforcement is available for a particular response.

Example of an SD?

A ringing phone signals that answering the phone is likely to produce access to the caller.

Does an SD force or cause behavior to occur?

No. It signals that a particular consequence is likely based on the person's reinforcement history.

What creates stimulus control?

A history in which a response has been differentially reinforced in the presence of particular stimuli.