Behavior Modification / Chapter 4 Terms

Front 1

abolishing operation

Back 1

One type of motivating operation. An event that decreases the potency of a particular reinforcer at a particular time and makes the behavior that produces that reinforcer less likely to occur. Satiation is a type of abolishing operation.

Front 2

acquisition

Back 2

The development of a new behavior through reinforcement.

Front 3

aversive stimulus

Back 3

A stimulus that will decrease the future probability of a behavior when the stimulus is delivered contingent on the occurrence of the behavior. Also called a punisher.

Front 4

avoidance behavior

Back 4

A behavior that prevents an aversive event. The behavior is negatively reinforced by the avoidance of the aversive event.

Front 5

backup reinforcer

Back 5

Reinforces used in a token economy. A client receives tokens for desirable behaviors and exchanges a specified number of tokens for any of a variety of backup reinforcers.

Front 6

concurrent operants

Back 6

Two or more of different behaviors or response options are concurrently available for the per- son. Each response option is associated with a specific reinforcement schedule.

Front 7

concurrent schedules of
reinforcement

Back 7

Schedules of reinforcement that exist at the same time for two or more different behaviors (which are called concurrent operants). Which particular behavior occurs at a particular time depends on the relative schedule of reinforcement, magnitude of reinforcement, delay of reinforcement, and response effort for the available behaviors.

Front 8

conditioned reinforcer

Back 8

A previously neutral stimulus that has been paired a number of times with an established reinforcer and consequently functions as a reinforcer itself.

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consequence

Back 9

The stimulus or event occurring immediately after a behavior.

Front 10

contingency

Back 10

A relationship between a response and a consequence in which the consequence is presented if and only if the response occurs. When such a relationship exists, the consequence is said to be contingent on the response.

Front 11

continuous reinforcement schedule (CRF) schedule

Back 11

A schedule of reinforcement in which each instance of the behavior is followed by the reinforcer.

Front 12

deprivation

Back 12

A condition in which the person has gone with-
out a particular reinforcer for a period of time. Deprivation is a type of establishing operation; it makes the reinforcer the person has gone without more potent.

Front 13

escape behavior

Back 13

Behavior that results in the termination of
an aversive stimulus. The termination of the aversive stimulus negatively reinforces the behavior.

Front 14

establishing operation

Back 14

One type of motivating operation. An event that increases the potency of a particular reinforcer at a particular time and evokes the behavior that produces that reinforcer. Deprivation is a type of establishing operation.

Front 15

fixed interval schedule

Back 15

A schedule of reinforcement in which the reinforcer is delivered for the first response that occurs after an interval of time has elapsed. The interval is the same each time.

Front 16

fixed ratio (FR) schedule

Back 16

A schedule of reinforcement in which a specific number of responses must occur before the reinforcer is delivered. The number of responses needed for reinforcement does not change.

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generalized conditioned reinforcer

Back 17

A conditioned reinforcer that has been paired with a variety of other reinforcers. Money and praise generalized are conditioned reinforcers for many people.

Front 18

intermittent reinforcement schedule

Back 18

A schedule of reinforcement in which not every instance of the behavior is followed by the delivery of the reinforcer. Includes fixed ratio, fixed interval, variable ratio, and variable interval schedules.

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maintenance

Back 19

Continuation of the behavior change for a long period after the termination of a behavior modification program. Also, continuation of an operant behavior with intermittent reinforcement.

Front 20

motivating operations

Back 20

An antecedent stimulus or event
that alters the value of a reinforcer and alters the probability of the behavior that produces that reinforcer. Establishing operations and abolishing operations are two types of MOs.

Front 21

negative reinforcement

Back 21

A type of reinforcement in which the occurrence of the behavior is followed by the removal or avoidance of an aversive stimulus. It results in increase in the future probability of the behavior.

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operant behavior

Back 22

Behavior that acts on the environment to produce an immediate consequence and, in turn, is strengthened by that consequence.

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positive reinforcement

Back 23

A type of reinforcement in which, contingent on the behavior, a stimulus or event is presented and the probability of the behavior increases in the future.

Front 24

positive reinforcer

Back 24

A stimulus that will increase the future probability of a behavior when the stimulus is delivered contingent on the occurrence of the behavior.

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Premack principle

Back 25

One type of positive reinforcement in which the opportunity to engage in a high-probability behavior is made contingent on the occurrence of a low-probability behavior to increase the low-probability behavior.

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Reinforcement

Back 26

The process in which the occurrence of a behavior is followed by a consequence that results in an increase in the future probability of the behavior.

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reinforcer

Back 27

A stimulus or event that increases the future probability of a behavior when it occurs contingent on the occurrence of the behavior.

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response

Back 28

A response is one instance or occurrence of a particular behavior.

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response effort

Back 29

The amount of force, exertion, or time involved in executing a response. With an increase in response effort for one behavior, the probability of that behavior decreases relative to the probability of a functionally equivalent alternative behavior.

Front 30

satiation

Back 30

Progressive (and ultimately total) loss of effectiveness of a reinforcer. Satiation occurs when you have recently consumed a large amount of a particular reinforcer or when you have had substantial exposure to a reinforcing stimulus.

Front 31

schedule of reinforcement

Back 31

Specifies which responses will be followed by delivery of the reinforcer. In a continuous reinforcement schedule, every response is followed by the reinforcer. In an intermittent schedule, not every response is followed by the reinforcer.

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stimulus

Back 32

An environmental event that can be detected by
one of the senses.

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token

Back 33

A conditioned reinforcer used in a token economy. The token is something that can be given to another person and accumulated by that person. The token is a conditioned reinforcer because it is given to the per- son after a desirable behavior and is exchanged for established reinforcers called backup reinforcers.

Front 34

unconditioned reinforcer

Back 34

A stimulus that is naturally reinforcing because the capacity for our behavior to be strengthened by the stimulus has survival value. No prior conditioning is necessary for an unconditioned reinforcer to be a reinforcer. Examples include food, water, escape from extreme stimulation, and sexual contact.

Front 35

variable interval (VI) schedule

Back 35

A schedule of reinforcement in which the first response that occurs after a specified time interval is reinforced. The time interval varies around an average value.

Front 36

variable ratio (VR) schedule

Back 36

A schedule of reinforcement in which a specified number of responses is needed for the delivery of the reinforcer. The number of responses needed varies around an average number.