Question

Examine the following response chain, which a behavior therapist is teaching to a young adult with a severe developmental disability. For each of the five stimuli, place an “X” in the appropriate boxes to indicate whether the stimulus is a discriminative stimulus, a conditioned reinforcer, or a primary reinforcer. Note that more than one term may apply to some of the stimuli:

                                                                                   

Discriminative stimulus	Conditioned reinforcer	Primary reinforcer	Stimulus	Response
			Load of dirty laundry	Put laundry in washer
			Laundry in washer	Add soap and start washer
			Washer cycle finishes	Put wet clothes in dryer
			Dryer cycle finishes	Fold laundry
			Learner is given a snack

Answer 1

Here is the response chain:

Let's see in detail:

Stimulus: Load of dirty laundry

Response: Put laundry in the washer

Here, the response is to put the dirty laundry in the washer. This is not rewarded immediately but requires consistent inducement in order for the young adult to put it into the washer in hopes of getting the snack, which is a primary enforcer.

Stimulus: Laundry in the washer

Response: Add soap and start washer

Here, the response is to add soap and start the washer. This is another continued stimulus in order to attain the primary enforcer and is both discriminative stimulus as well as a conditioned reinforcer.

Stimulus: Washer cycle finishes

Response: Put wet clothes in the dryer

Here, the response is to put the washed laundry in the dryer. This is not rewarded because the cycle is complete only upon folding. It again requires consistent inducement in order for the young adult to put it into the dryer in hopes of getting the snack, which is a primary enforcer.

Stimulus: Dryer cycle finishes

Response: Fold laundry

The same as the previous four steps, but is more attached to the primary enforcer. This response guarantees that primary enforcer is to come next and is therefore much anticipated.

Stimulus: Learner is given a snack

This is the primary enforcer which is one of the basic needs such as food, water, air etc.,