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Psychology 181/281-Miguel Fall 06 Unit 5

Unit 5 – Establishing Operations

From JM

  1. What is an Establishing Operation/Motivating Operation? (136, 2)
  1. First defining feature of a Motivating Operation (MO) Be able to state the first defining effect of a MO (45, 2).
  1. Second defining feature of a MO. Be able to state the second defining effect of a MO (45,3).
  1. What is the difference between EOs and MOs? (46,5)
  1. Unconditioned motivating operation (UMO): A motivative relation with an unlearned reinforcer-establishing/abolishing effect. There are several kinds of MOs with learned reinforcer establishing/abolishing effects, called conditioned establishing operations (CMOs). Much human behavior is controlled by such CMOs, which will be considered much later. Memorize the definition of UMO
  1. Main human UMOs: deprivation with respect to (1) food, (2)water, (3)activity, (4) sleep, and (5) oxygen (actually an increase in blood carbon dioxide level) and (6) sexual activity and stimulation. In addition to these six deprivation UMOs, there are three more that are not easily described as forms of deprivation. Being too warm is an UMO that makes a temperature decrease effective as reinforcement; and being too cold is an UMO that makes a temperature increase effective as reinforcement. Finally, an increase in painful stimulation is an UMO that makes a reduction in painful stimulation effective as reinforcement. So, the nine human UMOs are deprivation with respect to (1) food, (2) water, (3) activity, (4) sleep, (5) oxygen, (6) sex; also (7)being too warm, (8) being too cold, and (9) an increase in painful stimulation. There are a number of drugs and similar chemical substances that may have reinforcer establishing/abolishing effects and evocative/abative effects that do not depend on a learning history and therefore can be considered UMOs. For example, an effective appetite suppressor would decrease the effectiveness of food as a form of reinforcement (the reinforcer abolishing effect), and more important for the dieter, would also decrease the current frequency of behavior that has been reinforced by food--getting and eating more food (the abative effect). Be familiar with the 9 human UMOs.
  1. Establishing and Evocative effects of UMOs. Memorize Table 2 (p.49)
  1. Abolishing and Abative effects of UMOs. Memorize Table 3 (p.30)

9.  Only pain reduction reinforces. The evocative effect of an increase in the intensity of painful stimulation is an increase in the frequency of behavior that has been reinforced by pain removal. This is sometimes erroneously shortened to "an increase in the frequency of behavior that has been reinforced by pain." Under ordinary circumstances[1] no behavior is reinforced by pain, only by pain removal or decrease. Similarly for describing the abative effect of a reduction in painful stimulation. The correct effect is a decrease in the current frequency of behavior that has been reinforced by pain reduction or removal. To describe the effect as a decrease in the current frequency of behavior that has been reinforced by pain is quite incorrect--no behavior has been reinforced by pain. (As will be discussed later, an increase in painful stimulation functions as punishment in decreasing the future frequency of the specific type of behavior that immediately preceded the pain increase.). Be able to recognize this error and to correct it if I give you a statement containing the error and ask what is wrong with the statement and how should it be correctly stated.

10.  MO Abative and SR Reinforcing Effects. The same environmental changes that function as UMOs may also function as forms of unconditioned reinforcement (SR). However it would be a source of confusion to say that the UMO is a reinforcer (or that the reinforcement was a UMO). The issue is complex, and can best be understood by studying Table 4 (51). Food in the mouth (food ingestion) as a behavioral consequence is a form of reinforcement (given food deprivation). This means that it increases the future frequency of the specific type of behavior that preceded the food ingestion. But food ingestion is also an antecedent[2] environmental change that has a MO abative effect (decreases the current frequency of all responses that have been reinforced with food). These two effects are working in the opposite direction, but with respect to different behaviors. Using the language of Table 4, be able to identify and distinguish between MO and SR effects of food ingestion, pain decrease, water ingestion, and becoming comfortable after having been too cold, or too warm

Comment: Note that reinforcement (SR) increases the frequency of behavior (punishment decreases the future frequency of behavior–the behavior that precedes the punishment). Food ingestion as a MO (the abative effect of the MO) decreases the frequency of behavior. Food deprivation as a MO increases the frequency of behavior. So, how can we distinguish between a change in the frequency of behavior brought about by reinforcement (or punishment) and a change in the frequency of behavior brought about by a MO? The distinction is indicated by contrasting a change in the current frequency of behavior with a change in the future frequency of behavior - whether it is a permanent change in the repertoire (future frequency), or a change (current frequency) that will only last as long as the changed MO condition lasts. Changes in future frequency are operant learning. Changes in current frequency refer to a motivation effect on the occurrence of already learned behavior.

11.  EO Evocative and Punishing effects. The same environmental changes that function as UMOs may also function as forms of unconditioned punishment (SUP). However it would be a source of confusion to say that the UMO is a punisher (or that the punishment was an UMO). The issue is complex, and can best be understood by studying Table 5 (52). Painful stimulation as a behavioral consequence is a form of punishment. This means that it decreases the future frequency of the specific type of behavior that preceded the instance of painful stimulation. But painful stimulation is also an antecedent environmental change that has an UEO evocative effect (increases the current frequency of all responses that have been reinforced pain removal). These two effects are working in the opposite direction, but with respect to different behaviors.

12.  Terminology supplement. One of the effects of a MO is the reinforcer-establishing effect. Sometimes the establishing is omitted, and reference is made to the "reinforcing effect" of a MO. MOs do not have any reinforcing effects, only reinforcer-establishing/abolishing effects and evocative/abative effects. Learn to recognize the erroneous uses and to avoid them.

13.  Define Conditioned Establishing Operations (143, 2,3).

14.  How can you distinguish a MO from an SD? (52,1 and lecture)

GRADUATE STUDENTS

15.  Define and give an example of a Surrogate CEO (144)

16.  Define and give an example of a Reflexive CEO (147)

17.  Define and give an example of a Transitive CEO (148)

18.  What is the problem of the problem of using MO (antecedent) manipulations to reduce problem behavior in the applied setting? (153,2)

END

[1]Painful stimulation can be related to some other form of reinforcement than pain removal, such as food or sexual stimulation, or even more complexly, the "knowledge" that some form of exercise has been effective. Pain onset is then functioning as a form of conditioned reinforcement, but it takes a complex history to produce such effects, more complex than we are dealing with at this point in the course.

[2]Variables that have their effects prior to the occurrence of the relevant behavior are referred to as antecedent variables; those that have their effects after the occurrence of the relevant behavior are referred to as postcedent variables. EOs (and SDs--covered in a later unit) are antecedent variables; delivering a reinforcer or a punisher after a response occurs is a postcedent variable.