Michael

Establishing Operations

Introduction

  • Author: Jack Michael, Western Michigan University

  • Source: The Behavior Analyst, 1993, 16, 191-206

  • Focus: Examines the concept of establishing operations (EOs) in behavior analysis to address gaps in understanding operant functional relations.

Background

  • Pioneering texts on behavior analysis included motivation chapters (Skinner, 1938; Keller & Schoenfeld, 1950).

  • By the late 1960s, motivation received less emphasis in literature, leading to a gap in understanding.

Concept of Establishing Operations (EOs)

  • Definition: An EO alters the reinforcing effectiveness of environmental events and the frequency of behaviors associated with these events.

  • Key Effects:

    • Reinforcer Establishing: Increases the effectiveness of a reinforcer (e.g., food deprivation enhances food's reinforcing quality).

    • Evocative Effect: Increases the occurrence of behaviors that have previously been reinforced by the relevant event (e.g., hunger triggers seeking food).

Distinction Between Variables

  • Discriminative Variables:

    • Related to the availability of reinforcement based on behavior.

    • Influence behavior when the reinforcement is more available in the presence of specific stimuli.

  • Motivational Variables:

    • Related to the effectiveness of environmental events in reinforcing behaviors.

    • Evaluate changes in reinforcer effectiveness.

Types of Establishing Operations

  • Unconditioned Establishing Operations (UEOs):

    • Naturally occurring events that enhance reinforcement effectiveness due to evolutionary history.

    • Examples: food deprivation, painful stimulation.

  • Conditioned Establishing Operations (CEOs):

    • Depend on an organism's learning history.

    • Types include:

      • Surrogate CEO: A neutral stimulus correlated with a UEO.

      • Reflexive CEO: A stimulus that terminates painful stimulation and evokes escape behavior.

      • Transitive CEO: Enhances the effectiveness of another stimulus related to reinforcement or punishment.

Functional Relations of EOs

  • EOs can influence multiple behaviors through conditioning, providing complexity in human behavior's determinants.

  • Understanding EOs helps identify and manage controlling factors for varied behaviors.

The Role of Motivation in Behavior Analysis

Motivation and Behavior

  • Commonsense psychology identifies behavior as a function of knowledge and motivation.

  • Traditional psychotherapy often focuses on desires and internal states, especially in applied settings.

Motivation in Behavior Analysis

  • The concept of reinforcement overshadowed traditional motivational theories but cannot fully replace them.

  • Important to integrate motivation to better understand behavioral responses to environmental conditions.

Skinner's Contributions

  • Skinner's differentiation of deprivation and satiation extends motivation theory.

  • Contributions to understanding drive and aversive stimulation highlight the need for motivational analysis.

Implications of Establishing Operations

  • Multi-faceted Understanding: More nuanced insights into human behavior including aggression, emotional responses, and punishment.

  • Complex Behavior Analysis: Reframing discussions on reinforcement to incorporate motivational dynamics alongside learning histories.

  • Practical Applications: EOs can guide interventions in applied behavior analysis for effective behavior modification.

Conclusion

  • Reintroducing motivation through EOs enriches behavior analysis, enabling better identification of factors influencing behavior and fostering comprehensive behavioral practice.

Key Terms

  • Establishing Operations (EOs): Events that alter the effectiveness of reinforcement/punishment and behavior frequency.

  • Unconditioned (UEO) & Conditioned Establishing Operations (CEO): Differentiate between learned and natural motivators affecting behavior.