Conditioned Motivating Operation-Transitive (CMO-T)

A Conditioned Motivating Operation-Transitive (CMO-T) is a type of motivating operation (MO) that makes something else effective as a reinforcer, due to a learned relationship between stimuli. In simple terms, the CMO-T increases the value of another stimulus as a reinforcer because it is necessary to complete a task or access something else. It creates a situation where the person must engage in certain behavior to achieve a desired outcome.

Example

If you are trying to unlock a door, a key becomes a necessary tool to complete the task. The key itself becomes more valuable because it is needed to open the door. The locked door (CMO-T) increases the value of the key as a reinforcer because you need the key to access the room.

Another example: A student wants to access a game on the computer. However, the computer is password-protected. The student now sees the password as something valuable (a reinforcer) because it is necessary to gain access to the game. The password is not inherently reinforcing, but the CMO-T (the desire to play the game) makes it reinforcing in that moment.

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