Michael, J. (2000).
Implications and refinements of the establishing operation concept.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
33, 401-410.
In this paper I discuss (a) three steps in the development of
establishing operation (EO) terminology, (b) my early neglect of
its possible relevance to applied behavior analysis, (c) the
importance of functional analysis methodology for increasing
awareness of EO issues, and (d) three comprehensive reviews that
clarify the role of EOs in applied work. I then review and
further analyze seven topics that require further clarification
or that have been raised since my 1982 and 1993 articles: the EO
evocative effect, deprivation and satiation, problem behavior
maintained by attention, decreasing behavior evoked by a
transitive conditioned establishing operation, EOs in the context of escape and
avoidance, academic demand, and decreasing behavior evoked by a
reflexive conditioned establishing operation.
DESCRIPTORS: _establishing operations, problem behavior, antecedent influences,
conditioned establishing operations