Skip to main content
The Behavior Analyst logoLink to The Behavior Analyst
. 1995 Spring;18(1):173–185. doi: 10.1007/BF03392705

“Reinforcement” in behavior theory

William N Schoenfeld
PMCID: PMC2733663  PMID: 22478218

Abstract

In its Pavlovian context, “reinforcement” was actually a descriptive term for the functional relation between an unconditional and a conditional stimulus. When it was adopted into operant conditioning, “reinforcement” became the central concept and the key operation, but with new qualifications, new referents, and new expectations. Some behavior theorists believed that “reinforcers” comprise a special and limited class of stimuli or events, and they speculated about what the essential “nature of reinforcement” might be. It is now known that any stimulus can serve a reinforcing function, with due recognition of such parameters as subject species characteristics, stimulus intensity, sensory modality, and schedule of application. This paper comments on these developments from the stand-point of reflex behavior theory.

Full text

PDF
181

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BERSH P. J. The influence of two variables upon the establishment of a secondary reinforcer for operant responses. J Exp Psychol. 1951 Jan;41(1):62–73. doi: 10.1037/h0059386. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. LIBBY A. Two variables in the acquisition of depressant properties by a stimulus. J Exp Psychol. 1951 Aug;42(2):100–107. doi: 10.1037/h0062433. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Schoenfeld W. N., Cole B. K. What is a "schedule of reinforcement"? Pavlov J Biol Sci. 1975 Jan-Mar;10(1):52–61. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Schoenfeld W. N. Problems of modern behavior theory. Cond Reflex. 1972 Jan-Mar;7(1):33–65. doi: 10.1007/BF03000463. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Schoenfeld W. N. The "response" in behavior theory. Pavlov J Biol Sci. 1976 Jul-Sep;11(3):129–149. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. ZEAMAN D., HOUSE B. J. Response latency at zero drive after varying numbers of reinforcements. J Exp Psychol. 1950 Oct;40(5):570–583. doi: 10.1037/h0057234. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. ZEAMAN D. Response latency as a function of the amount of reinforcement. J Exp Psychol. 1949 Aug;39(4):466–483. doi: 10.1037/h0060477. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Behavior Analyst are provided here courtesy of Association for Behavior Analysis International

RESOURCES