A variable altering reinforcer or punisher effectiveness, changing behavior frequency is called what?

A variable altering reinforcer or punisher effectiveness, changing behavior frequency is called what?

• A. Contingency-Shaped Behavior
• B. Stimulus Discrimination
• C. Motivating Operation (MO)
• D. Behavior Contrast

Answer: (C)

A Motivating Operation is an environmental event that changes how valuable a reinforcer or punisher is and, as a result, alters how often a behavior occurs to obtain or avoid that consequence. It has two parts: an establishing operation, which increases the value of the consequence and makes the behavior that has produced it more likely, and an abolishing operation, which decreases its value and reduces that behavior. For example, food deprivation makes food more valuable as a reinforcer and increases eating-related behavior, while satiety would reduce its value and lower that behavior. The description in the question matches this concept exactly. The other terms describe different aspects of behavior control (direct reinforcement history, stimulus discrimination, or cross-context reinforcement effects) and do not capture the value-altering effect of environmental events on consequences.

A Motivating Operation is an environmental event that changes how valuable a reinforcer or punisher is and, as a result, alters how often a behavior occurs to obtain or avoid that consequence. It has two parts: an establishing operation, which increases the value of the consequence and makes the behavior that has produced it more likely, and an abolishing operation, which decreases its value and reduces that behavior. For example, food deprivation makes food more valuable as a reinforcer and increases eating-related behavior, while satiety would reduce its value and lower that behavior. The description in the question matches this concept exactly. The other terms describe different aspects of behavior control (direct reinforcement history, stimulus discrimination, or cross-context reinforcement effects) and do not capture the value-altering effect of environmental events on consequences.