Which term refers to a stimulus that signals non-reinforcement and reduces the likelihood of the target behavior when present?

Which term refers to a stimulus that signals non-reinforcement and reduces the likelihood of the target behavior when present?

• A. Aversive Stimulus
• B. S-Delta (S∆)
• C. Reinforcement
• D. Generalization

Answer: (B)

An S-Delta signals that reinforcement is not available. In operant conditioning, this cue tells the organism that the upcoming response won't be reinforced, so the likelihood of that behavior decreases when the S-Delta is present. It’s part of discriminative control: the presence of a stimulus can indicate reinforcement is available (SD) or not available (S-Delta). Aversive stimuli are unpleasant consequences or events, reinforcement is a consequence that increases behavior, and generalization is responding to stimuli similar to the training cue. So the term that signals non-reinforcement and reduces the target behavior when present is S-Delta.

An S-Delta signals that reinforcement is not available. In operant conditioning, this cue tells the organism that the upcoming response won't be reinforced, so the likelihood of that behavior decreases when the S-Delta is present. It’s part of discriminative control: the presence of a stimulus can indicate reinforcement is available (SD) or not available (S-Delta). Aversive stimuli are unpleasant consequences or events, reinforcement is a consequence that increases behavior, and generalization is responding to stimuli similar to the training cue. So the term that signals non-reinforcement and reduces the target behavior when present is S-Delta.