What is an example of an abolishing operation (AO)?

An abolishing operation (AO) is a concept from behavior analysis that describes a condition or event that decreases the reinforcing effectiveness of a stimulus, event, or object. In this context, satiation or having too much access to something serves as a clear example of an AO because when an individual has had an excessive amount of a particular reinforcement, their motivation to seek that reinforcement diminishes.

For instance, if a person frequently consumes sweets, they eventually may lose interest or desire for more sweets, thus reducing the effectiveness of sweets as a reinforcer. This illustrates how the state of being satiated acts to lessen the value of the item that was once reinforcing, thereby impacting behavior.

The other options relate to different concepts in behavior analysis. Deprivation of a resource would typically serve as a motivating operation rather than an abolishing operation, increasing the value of that resource. Similarly, increased motivation for a behavior aligns with establishing operations (EOs), which increase the effectiveness of a reinforcer. A lack of an environmental stimulus doesn’t directly illustrate the concept of an abolishing operation; instead, it relates more to the absence of reinforcement rather than a change in motivational state due to overexposure.