Concepts and Principles
Unconditioned, conditioned, and generalized consequences
Classify reinforcers and punishers by learning history and generality, and distinguish consequence type from whether a consequence increases or decreases behavior.
How this shows up in scenario questions
- 1Identify whether a reinforcer or punisher is unconditioned, conditioned, or generalized.
- 2Explain why generalized conditioned reinforcers are less dependent on a specific deprivation state.
- 3Distinguish consequence classification from reinforcement-versus-punishment effects.
Common misconceptions
- Calling all preferred items unconditioned reinforcers.
- Assuming generalized reinforcers work equally for every person in every context.
- Classifying a stimulus as a reinforcer without evidence of increased behavior.
Distractor patterns
- Choose unconditioned when the stimulus acquired value through learning.
- Treat generalized reinforcer as a schedule of reinforcement.
- Ignore behavior-change evidence when classifying consequences.
Related terms
unconditioned reinforcerconditioned reinforcergeneralized reinforcerunconditioned punisherconditioned punishergeneralized punisher