On 11 Nov 2003, Paul Brandon wrote: > As I said earlier, part of the problem is inherent in the use of the > topographically similar terms "negative reinforcer" and "negative > reinforcement", leading to excessive stimulus generalization. The > solution is to use the term "aversive stimulus" to refer to the event > (which can function as either a reinforcer or a punisher depending > upon the contingency)
This depends on how you define "aversive stimulus". Paul gave this definition in his previous post: "An aversive stimulus is one whose presentation is punishing and whose removal is negatively reinforcing" . I see three problems with the use of the term "aversive stimulus" 1) It's all too often not used in the technical sense given by Paul above but instead with inappropriate subjective connotations, as something unpleasant. So I think it's best to avoid the term. 2) Paul's definition refers to a special class of events with the ability to both punish and negatively reinforce. I referred to Kazdin's contention that a stimulus doesn't necessarily have to have both properties simultaneously. What do we do with stimuli whose presentation is punishing but whose removal isn't negatively reinforcing, and vice versa? I think it's preferable to define a negative reinforcer as one whose removal is strengthening and then ask whether that stimulus can also function as a punisher when presented (leave it as an empirical question). 3) It's inelegant and convoluted to require that before one can designate a stimulus as a negative reinforcer, one has to first show that it's an aversive stimulus, which (according to Paul's definition) means that it must be shown both that its presentation weakens and its removal strengthens. Compare that with the straightforward definition that it's a negative reinforcer if its removal strengthens. Yet even that one leads to widespread misunderstanding among students. -Stephen ___________________________________________________ Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. tel: (819) 822-9600 ext 2470 Department of Psychology fax: (819) 822-9661 Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Lennoxville, QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Dept web page at http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy TIPS discussion list for psychology teachers at http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips _______________________________________________ --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
