Motivating Operations Flashcards
Motivating Operation
A motivating operation (MO) (a) alters the effectiveness of some stimulus as a reinforcer, the value-altering effect; and (b) alters the current frequency of all behavior that has been reinforced by that stimulus, the behavior-altering effect.
Value Altering effect
The value-altering effect is either (a) an increase in the reinforcing effectiveness of some stimulus, in which case the MO is an establishing operation (EO); or (b) a decrease in reinforcing effectiveness, in which case the MO is an abolishing operation (AO).
behavior altering effect
The behavior-altering effect is either (a) an increase in the current frequency of behavior that has been reinforced by some stimulus, called an evocative effect; or (b) a decrease in the current frequency of behavior that has been reinforced by some stimulus, called an abative effect
differential availability
An SD controls a type of behavior because it has been related to the differential availability of an effective reinforcer for that type of behavior. This means that the relevant consequence has been available in the presence of, and unavailable in the absence of, the stimulus. Most variables that qualify as motivating operations fail to meet this second SD requirement because in the absence of the variable, there is no MO for the relevant reinforcer, and thus no reinforcer unavailability.
Diff between SD and MO
In nontechnical terms, an tells you that something you want is available; an MO makes you want something
MO effects
MO has a value Altering Effect which has a EO (Establishing) reinfocer (an increase in the effectiveness of some stimulus, object or event) or AO (Abolishing) Reinorcer (a decrease)
MO has a behavior altering effect which has an Evocative Effect (an increase in the frequency) or an Abative Effect (decrease)
Direct Evocative Effect
MO capacity to evoke behavior regardless of the SD
Inirect Evocative Effect
MO Indirectly effect the strength of SD
Function Altering Effect
Function Altering Effects: A change in an organism’s repertoire of MO, stimulus,
and response relations, caused by reinforcement, punishment, and extinction
procedure, or a recovery from punishment procedure.
UNO
Unconditioned MOs (UMOs): A motivating operation whose value-altering
effect does not depend on a learning history
CMO
• Conditioned MOs (CMOs): A motivating operation whose value-altering
effect depends on a learning history
Types of CMO
Surragate, Reflexive Transitive
CMO-S
• CMO-S: Surragate - A previously neutral stimulus that acquired its MO effects by being
paired with a UMO
• Example: Mom puts a tired toddler to sleep (sleep = UMO). When mom puts the
toddler to sleep, she always wears a fuzzy sweater. One day, mom forgets to wear the
fuzzy sweater, and the toddler refuses to sleep. She quickly retrieves her fuzzy sweater,
which then puts the toddler to sleep. The fuzzy sweater is now a CMO-S. If the mom
is able to put the toddler to sleep without the fuzzy sweater, that article of clothing
no longer serves as a CMO-S.
CMO-R
• CMO-R: Reflexive A stimulus that acquires MO effectiveness by preceding some form of
worsening or improvement.
• This signals to us that an aversive event may be occurring soon
• Example 1: You work with an aversive co-worker. This co-worker is constantly nagging
you and asking you to do her work. As a result, when you hear her voice, you avoid
her at all cost (i.e., CMO-R).
• Example 2: You are walking down the street, and a drug addict asks for money. You
simply say, “I don’t have anything” and quickly walk away. This act is considered a
CMO-R, because you are motivated to avoid the drug addict.
CMO-T
CMO-T: Transitive When an environmental variable establishes (or abolishes) the
effectiveness of another event as a reinforcer or punisher.
• You CANNOT have access to the stimulus you want until you solve the problem.
• Example 1: Someone puts a lock on the fridge. This establishes the reinforcing value
of a key (key becomes the CMO-T) when access to food is valuable as a source of
reinforcement.
