Motivating Operation (MO)
An environmental variable that temporarily changes the value of a reinforcer and alters the frequency of related behaviours.
Motivating Operations act like a volume dial for reinforcers. They temporarily alter how much a learner wants something and how hard they will work to get it.
An MO has two distinct effects:
- Value-altering effect: Temporarily makes a consequence more or less valuable.
- Behaviour-altering effect: Triggers or suppresses the behaviours that historically led to that consequence.
MOs explain why a behaviour happens at a specific moment in time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a motivating operation?
A motivating operation (MO) is an environmental variable that temporarily changes how valuable a reinforcer is and how likely the behaviours that produce it become. Hunger is an MO: it makes food more valuable and food-seeking more likely.
What are the two effects of a motivating operation?
A value-altering effect (it makes a consequence more or less valuable) and a behaviour-altering effect (it makes the behaviours that historically produced that consequence more or less likely).
What is the difference between a motivating operation and a discriminative stimulus?
An MO changes how much a reinforcer is wanted (motivation); a discriminative stimulus signals that the reinforcer is available (opportunity). Hunger makes food valuable; the sight of a vending machine signals food is available.