The statement 'The behavior-altering effect of an EO for both reinforcers and punishers results in an increased frequency of behavior' is

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not stated
• D. Cannot be determined

Answer: (B)

Establishing operations change how much a consequence matters at the moment, biasing behavior toward or away from outcomes that have been reinforced or punished in the past. When a reinforcer becomes more valuable due to an EO (like deprivation increasing the value of a preferred snack), the behavior that has produced that reinforcer is more likely to occur. For punishers, an EO makes the punisher more potent, which typically increases avoidance or escape behaviors to prevent or terminate the punishing outcome, and can reduce the behavior that led to the punishment. Because the effect is not a blanket increase in all behavior, the statement that an EO for both reinforcers and punishers always increases the frequency of behavior is not correct.