Discriminative Stimulus: A Review
Discriminative stimuli (SDs) are environmental cues that act to distinguish a behavior from a variety of competing behaviors. SDs are essential components of operant conditioning, and have been studied extensively in the field of psychology. This review will discuss the definition, types, and functions of SDs, as well as how SDs are used in research and clinical settings.
Definition. A discriminative stimulus is any environmental cue that provides information to an organism about the consequences of a behavior (Davison & Tustin, 1978). The SD signals to the organism that a particular response will lead to a certain outcome. For example, if an SD is present and a lever press is made, a food reward may be delivered. Without the presence of the SD, the lever press will not result in a food reward.
Types. There are two types of SDs: positive and negative. Positive SDs act as signals for reinforcement and indicate that a particular behavior will result in a reward. Negative SDs act as signals for punishment and indicate that a particular behavior will result in an aversive outcome.
Functions. SDs have three important functions in operant conditioning. First, they provide information about the consequences of behavior. Second, they can be used to shape new behaviors or reinforce existing behaviors. Third, they can be used to discriminate between responses, allowing an organism to choose the most appropriate response for a given situation.
Research and Clinical Applications. SDs are used in research to study the effects of reinforcement and punishment on behavior. For example, researchers may use SDs to study how different reinforcement schedules affect operant conditioning (Killeen, 1978). SDs are also used in clinical settings to modify behavior. For example, a clinician may use SDs to teach an individual with autism to respond appropriately to social cues (Kamio, Sakuma, & Wada, 2008).
Conclusion. Discriminative stimuli are environmental cues that act to distinguish a behavior from a variety of competing behaviors. SDs are essential components of operant conditioning and have a variety of research and clinical applications.
References
Davison, M. C., & Tustin, R. D. (1978). Operant conditioning. London: Academic Press.
Kamio, Y., Sakuma, T., & Wada, K. (2008). Teaching children with autism to respond to social cues: An application of discriminative stimulus. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 2(4), 826-835.
Killeen, P. R. (1978). Reinforcement schedules and principles of behavior. American Psychologist, 33(3), 213-223.