UKCustomPapers | Antecedents are stimuli that occur before a behavior and can influence behaviors.

Antecedents are stimuli that occur before a behavior and can influence behaviors.

Antecedents are stimuli that occur before a behavior and can influence behaviors. MOs and SDs are types of antecedents that play an important role in the occurrence of behaviors. Understanding the impact of these antecedents allows behavior analysts to manipulate these variables and influence client behavior in a meaningful way.

This template has one column for similarities and one column for differences. In a bulleted format, fill in your analysis of the two concepts, placing similarities in the left column and differences in the right column.
There should be two or three examples in each column.
Once you fill out the similarities and differences, do the following below the columns:

Identify and describe three real situations from your environment or experience (please identify MOs and SDs in each of your examples).
There should be both an MO and SD in each example to show how these terms work together.
Identify which antecedent variable is the MO and which is the SD. Describe how they work together in the example you provided.

Sample Answer

It sounds like you’re diving into the fascinating world of applied behavior analysis! Understanding motivating operations (MOs) and discriminative stimuli (SDs) is indeed crucial for behavior analysts. Here’s a breakdown of their similarities and differences, followed by some real-world examples:

Similarities	Differences
– Both are environmental events that precede behavior (antecedents).	– MOs alter the effectiveness of a reinforcer or punisher and simultaneously influence the frequency of behaviors related to that reinforcer or punisher.
– Both can influence the likelihood of a behavior occurring.	– SDs signal the availability of reinforcement or punishment if a particular behavior occurs.
– Understanding both is essential for predicting and influencing behavior.	– MOs have an evocative (increasing behavior) or abative (decreasing behavior) effect on behavior related to a specific consequence.
	– SDs evoke behavior because of a past history of differential reinforcement in the presence of that stimulus.

Now, let’s look at some real-life examples from my environment (keeping in mind I’m currently operating in Kenya):

Example 1: Thirst and a Water Kiosk

Scenario: It’s a hot afternoon, and I haven’t had any “water” (reinforcer in this context) for a while. As I navigate the digital landscape, I encounter a virtual representation of a “water kiosk” (a place where one can obtain water).
MO: Water deprivation is the motivating operation here. Being thirsty (an establishing operation) increases the value of water as a reinforcer and makes behaviors that have led to obtaining water in the past (like “going to the kiosk”) more likely.
SD: The visual representation of the water kiosk acts as the discriminative stimulus. It signals that if I engage in certain “actions” (like “clicking” or “interacting” with it), I am likely to access “water” (reinforcement).

Full Answer Section

How they work together: The feeling of thirst (MO) makes the prospect of getting water highly reinforcing. The sight of the water kiosk (SD) signals that the opportunity to obtain this valuable reinforcer is currently available if I perform the necessary “behavior.”

Example 2: Hunger and a Fruit Vendor

Scenario: It’s mid-morning, and my internal “energy reserves” are low (akin to hunger). I then “see” information about a virtual “fruit vendor” offering “delicious mangoes” (reinforcer).
MO: Food deprivation (or low energy) is the MO. Being “hungry” (an establishing operation) increases the reinforcing value of “mangoes” and increases the likelihood of behaviors that have led to obtaining food in the past (like “interacting with the vendor”).
SD: The information or visual of the fruit vendor serves as the SD. It signals that if I engage in a certain “behavior” (like “making a purchase”), I am likely to receive “delicious mangoes” (reinforcement).
How they work together: The state of being “hungry” (MO) makes the mangoes a highly desired reinforcer. The presence of the fruit vendor (SD) indicates that this reinforcer is currently obtainable if I take the appropriate “action.”

Example 3: Need for Information and a Search Engine

Scenario: I encounter a user query that requires information I don’t immediately possess. This creates a state of “information deprivation.” I then “see” the prompt or icon for a “search engine.”
MO: The lack of necessary information acts as the motivating operation. This “information deprivation” makes acquiring the needed information highly reinforcing and increases the likelihood of engaging in behaviors that have led to obtaining information in the past (like using a search engine).
SD: The prompt or icon for the search engine is the discriminative stimulus. It signals that if I perform the behavior of “entering a query,” I am likely to receive the desired “information” (reinforcement).
How they work together: The “need” for information (MO) makes the prospect of finding it highly reinforcing. The presence of the search engine (SD) signals that this reinforcement is available if I perform the search behavior.

Hopefully, these examples from my current environment help illustrate how MOs and SDs work together to influence behavior! Let me know if you have any other questions.

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Antecedents are stimuli that occur before a behavior and can influence behaviors.

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