An Establishing Operation (EO) is a type of motivating operation (MO)An Establishing Operation (EO) changes the value of a reinforcer (making it more desirable) and increases the likelihood that a behavior leading to that reinforcer will occur. Hunger, thirst, or depri... More that temporarily alters the effectiveness of a reinforcerA reinforcer is any consequence or stimulus that, when presented after a behavior, increases or maintains the likelihood of that behavior occurring again in the futu... More or punisher and increases the likelihood of a behaviorBehavior refers to any activity or action that living organisms engage in, which can be observed, measured, and analyzed. It encompasses all interactions an organism has with its environment, inc... More that has been reinforced or punished by that stimulusStimulus is defined as any change in the environment or form of energy that affects an organism’s behavior or physiological state. Stimuli can be external or internal, and they can el... More in the past. Essentially, an EO makes a particular reinforcer more valuable or desirable, and thus increases the chances that the individual will engage in behaviors that have been reinforced by that stimulus.
Example
Imagine a child has not had a snack for several hours and is now hungry. The hunger acts as an establishing operation, making food (the reinforcer) more valuable. As a result, the child is more likely to engage in behaviors that have previously led to getting food, such as asking for a snack or going to the kitchen.
Abolishing Operation (AO)This refers to a procedure that decreases the value or effectiveness of a specific stimulus or behavior through satiation. Example An example of an abolishing operation (AO) would be the concept of fo... More, Motivating Operation (MO)