[From Chris Cherpas (951205.1801) PT)]
Since some folks are talking about reinforcement in the context of food
deprivation, let me point out that Skinner (1953, p68) claims that being
more food deprived doesn't make your receipt of food a more effective
reinforcer. Skins does claim that food deprivation makes any behavior
which was followed by food in the past to increase in probability now,
but that's a separate issue.
Jack Michael (1982, JEAB) claims that deprivation does two things:
1) makes (past) food-reinforced behavior more likely (now); and
2) makes the reinforcement of a behavior (now) more effective --
which is evidenced by a higher probability of that class of behavior
in some future situation (e.g., food deprivation again).
I think most EABers are either unaware of this issue or simply _assume_
Michael's 2-function approach to deprivation. But, again, as long as
food deprivation means you start doing now what got you food in the past,
you reduce your likelihood of starving, even if the deprivation doesn't ALSO
make food a better reinforcer.
···
If you're interested I can send a copy of a little article I wrote on this for _The Behavior Analyst_, 1993, vol 16, no 2 (Fall), 347-349, called, "On terms: Do establishing operations alter reinforcement effectiveness?"
BTW, I was too lazy/cheap to get official reprints, but I can send a photocopy
if you drop me a line at ccherpas@cccpp.com.
Regards,
cc