Schedules, Extinction, Stimulus Control, Discrimination, and Generalization
Key Takeaways
- Schedules specify which responses contact reinforcement and shape response patterns.
- Extinction means withholding the maintaining reinforcer, not simply ignoring behavior.
- Stimulus control occurs when behavior changes in the presence of antecedent stimuli due to a reinforcement history.
- Discrimination narrows responding to relevant stimuli, while generalization spreads responding across similar stimuli or responses.
Schedules of Reinforcement
A schedule of reinforcement specifies the response requirement for reinforcement. Continuous reinforcement provides reinforcement for each response and is useful when teaching new behavior. Intermittent schedules provide reinforcement for some responses and often produce greater persistence.
Ratio schedules depend on number of responses. Interval schedules depend on the first response after time has passed. Fixed schedules use a predictable requirement. Variable schedules use an average requirement. Fixed ratio often produces a pause after reinforcement and then rapid responding. Variable ratio often produces steady, high rates.
Fixed interval often produces a scallop: low responding after reinforcement and increased responding as the interval ends. Variable interval often produces steady, moderate responding. Do not confuse interval schedules with noncontingent time-based delivery; interval schedules still require a response after time passes.
Extinction
Extinction occurs when the maintaining reinforcer no longer follows the response, producing a decrease over time. If attention maintained behavior, extinction requires withholding attention after that behavior. If escape maintained behavior, extinction requires preventing escape following the target response. Ignoring is extinction only when attention is the maintaining reinforcer.
Extinction may produce a burst, variability, emotional responding, or resurgence. These effects do not mean extinction is not in place. The exam usually asks whether the maintaining reinforcer is withheld and whether the behavior decreases across opportunities.
Stimulus Control and Generalization
A discriminative stimulus, or SD, signals that a response has a history of reinforcement. An S-delta signals that reinforcement is unavailable for that response. Discrimination occurs when behavior is more likely in the presence of the SD than in the S-delta.
Stimulus generalization occurs when behavior trained in one stimulus condition occurs in other similar or related conditions. Response generalization occurs when untrained but functionally similar responses occur. Maintenance is continued performance after part or all of the intervention is removed.
| Concept | Key test cue |
|---|---|
| Extinction | Maintaining reinforcer withheld |
| SD | Response has been reinforced in its presence |
| S-delta | Response has not produced reinforcement in its presence |
| Stimulus generalization | Same response, new stimuli |
| Response generalization | New responses, similar function |
A child receives a token after every fifth correct math problem. After each token, the child briefly pauses and then works quickly. Which schedule is most consistent with this pattern?
A student's jokes are maintained by peer laughter. The teacher stops responding to jokes, but peers continue laughing. Why is this not extinction for joke-telling?
A learner says water when shown a cup during training. Later, the learner says water when shown a bottle and a drinking fountain. Which outcome is illustrated?