Introductory Concepts
Elementary Relationships
Extensions of Verbal Behavior
Multiple Controlling Relationships
Building on the Elementary Relationships
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6.7 Aversive Stimulation

Another common establishing operation mentioned by Skinner is aversive stimulation. If someone shines a bright light in your face, that event makes the stimulus change which results in the light no longer shining in your face an effective reinforcement.

A man observing an aversive stimulation device (flashlight clipart).
“Um…please stop. Why are you doing this to me?”

Establishing Operation

An environmental change or event with the following features:

Precedes the response to which it is functionally related

Increases the effectiveness of a particular stimulus change as reinforcement

The type of environmental event

The cause of the environmental event

The type of stimulus that gains reinforcing effectiveness

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