establishing operation
Also written as: EO — Establishing Operation
An environmental event that temporarily alters the effectiveness of a stimulus as reinforcement and the frequency of behaviors that have produced that reinforcement.
Full Definition
An establishing operation (EO) is a motivating operation that increases both the reinforcing effectiveness of a stimulus and the frequency of behavior that has been reinforced by that stimulus in the past. Establishing operations create states of deprivation or aversive conditions that make certain consequences more valuable and more likely to function as reinforcers. For example, food deprivation serves as an establishing operation that increases the reinforcing value of food and increases food-seeking behaviors. Understanding establishing operations is crucial for behavioral interventions as they help predict when certain behaviors are more likely to occur and when specific reinforcers will be most effective.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish clearly from discriminative stimuli, which signal availability of reinforcement rather than altering reinforcer effectiveness.
In Context
- "Hunger served as an establishing operation that increased the effectiveness of food as a reinforcer during the training session." — Behavioral analysis
- "The intervention included manipulating establishing operations to increase motivation for appropriate communication behaviors." — Treatment plan