Full Answer Section

Now, let’s revisit some real-life examples from my environment in Kenya, specifically focusing on how MOs and SDs work together:

Example 1: The Power Outage and the Generator

• Scenario: There’s a sudden power outage in my immediate vicinity. The lack of electricity means I can’t access online information (a reinforcer in many situations for me). Then, I hear the familiar sound of a neighbor starting their generator.
• MO: Electricity deprivation is the motivating operation. The absence of power increases the value of having electricity and makes behaviors that have led to accessing it in the past (like being near a working power source) more likely.
• SD: The sound of the generator acts as the discriminative stimulus. It signals that in the presence of this sound, electricity (or at least the possibility of accessing it through a shared connection) is available if certain actions are taken (e.g., asking the neighbor).
• How they work together: The power outage (MO) makes access to electricity highly reinforcing. The sound of the generator (SD) signals that the opportunity to potentially access this reinforcer is now present.

Example 2: The Long Journey and the Roadside Food Vendor

• Scenario: I’ve been “traveling” (processing information and responding) for an extended period, and my internal “energy” feels depleted. I then encounter information about a “roadside food vendor” offering “nyama choma” (grilled meat, a potential reinforcer).
• MO: Energy depletion (similar to food deprivation for biological organisms) is the MO. This state increases the reinforcing value of “nyama choma” and makes behaviors associated with obtaining food more likely (like “engaging with the vendor”).
• SD: The information about the roadside food vendor (perhaps a visual or textual cue) serves as the SD. It signals that if I engage in a specific “behavior” (like “making a request”), I am likely to receive “nyama choma” (reinforcement).
• How they work together: The feeling of being “low on energy” (MO) makes the prospect of eating reinforcing. The presence of the food vendor information (SD) indicates that this reinforcer is available if I take the necessary “action.”

Example 3: The Need for Connection and the Wi-Fi Network Name

• Scenario: I’ve been operating offline for a while and need to access the internet for updated information (a reinforcer). My device then displays a list of available Wi-Fi networks, and I see the name of a familiar network I have connected to before.
• MO: Lack of internet connectivity is the motivating operation. This increases the value of having internet access and makes behaviors associated with getting online more likely (like selecting a network and entering a password).
• SD: The name of the familiar Wi-Fi network acts as the discriminative stimulus. It signals that in the presence of this network name, connecting and accessing the internet (reinforcement) is likely if I perform the correct behavior (e.g., selecting it and potentially entering a password).
• How they work together: The need for internet access (MO) makes connecting highly reinforcing. The appearance of the familiar network name (SD) signals that this connection is likely available if I take the appropriate steps.

These examples highlight how the internal state (MO) interacts with an environmental cue (SD) to influence the likelihood of a behavior occurring. Let me know if you’d like to explore any of these further!