Stimulus Control occurs when a behavior’s frequency, latency, duration, or intensity is influenced by the presence or absence of a particular stimulus. This process establishes stimulus control when behaviors are reinforced only when a specific stimulus, known as the discriminative stimulus (SD), is present, and not when other stimuli, referred to as stimulus deltas (SΔ), are present.
For example:
- Color Naming: A child exhibits stimulus control when they correctly say “red” upon seeing a red car but do not say “red” when they see a green car. The red car acts as the SD, while the green car functions as the SΔ.
- Requesting Treats: A child consistently asks for a cookie when they see their dad, because in the past, the father has provided a cookie when asked. However, the child doesn’t make the same request when seeing their mom, as she has not provided the cookie when asked. Here, dad is the SD and mom is the SΔ.
The Role of Discrimination Training
Discrimination Training is essential in teaching individuals to differentiate between specific stimuli and respond accordingly. It involves reinforcing a behavior in the presence of one stimulus while withholding reinforcement for the same behavior in the presence of other stimuli.
Examples:
- Color Naming Training: A child receives reinforcement (e.g., a cookie) when they correctly say “red” upon seeing a red car but do not receive reinforcement when they say “red” in the presence of a green car. Over time, this reinforces the distinction between the colors.
- Parental Recognition Training: A child receives a high-five when they correctly say “Mom” in the presence of their mother but does not receive a high-five when they say “Mom” when their father enters the room. This process helps the child differentiate between stimuli based on appropriate associations.
Understanding Discriminative Stimuli (SD)
Discriminative Stimuli (SD) are specific antecedent stimuli that signal the availability of reinforcement for a particular behavior. Over time, individuals learn to respond to the SD based on its history of being associated with reinforcement.
Examples:
- Color Recognition: A child says “red” when they see a red car and receive a cookie as reinforcement. The red car becomes the SD as it signals the opportunity for reinforcement (the cookie).
- Parental Recognition: A child says “Mom” when their mother enters the room and receives a high-five. The presence of the mother becomes the SD for the child’s behavior.
The Role of Stimulus Delta (SΔ)
Stimulus Delta (SΔ) represents a stimulus in the presence of which a specific behavior will not be reinforced. It helps the individual understand when reinforcement is not available.
Examples:
- Color Recognition with SΔ: A child says “red” when they see a green car but does not receive a cookie. The green car serves as the SΔ, indicating that the behavior will not be reinforced in this context.
- Parental Recognition with SΔ: When the child says “Mom” as their father walks into the room, they do not receive reinforcement. The father becomes the SΔ in this scenario.
Discriminative Stimulus for Punishment (SDp)
SDp (Discriminative Stimulus for Punishment) signals that a particular behavior will result in punishment. It helps individuals avoid behaviors that may lead to negative outcomes.
Example:
- Punishment and SDp in the Kitchen: A child reaches for a cookie in the presence of their strict aunt, who slaps their hand. The aunt becomes the SDp, signaling the likelihood of punishment if the child reaches for the cookie in her presence. Over time, the child learns to avoid reaching for cookies when the aunt is nearby.
Conclusion
Stimulus control and its related concepts—discriminative stimuli (SD), stimulus delta (SΔ), and discriminative stimulus for punishment (SDp)—are fundamental to understanding how behavior is influenced by environmental cues. Through discrimination training, individuals learn to differentiate between stimuli and respond appropriately based on past reinforcement or punishment experiences. These principles are key to effective behavior modification and help individuals make context-appropriate choices in various settings.
