By Although this type of stimulus does not determine our behavior, it does influence it. Learn how it works from the ABC process of the ABA model.
Our environment is full of cues that shape how we act. Discriminative input refers to those cues that tell us when it is appropriate to carry out certain actions and when it is not.
These alerts vary from the sound of a school bell that tells us when classes are changing, to the color of a traffic light that tells us when to cross the street safely. Let’s delve deeper into this psychological term.
What is discriminative stimulus?
This is a key concept of operant conditioning , a process that links stimuli (antecedents), responses (behaviors), and consequences. The discriminative stimulus anticipates that a given response will have a consequence.
A signal from the environment that indicates when it is appropriate to perform a particular action to obtain a reward or avoid a punishment . This signal can come in many forms, such as a phrase, a symbol, a switch, a sign, or an event.
How Discriminative Stimulation Works in ABA Therapy
ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy is an intervention approach based on the study and modification of behavior. Within this, the ABC process is fundamental to understanding the functioning of discriminative signals.
- A (Antecedent ) : refers to any symbol, event, or situation that occurs before a specific behavior is manifested. For example, at home, you see the sky getting darker and hear thunder (discriminative stimulus).
- B (Behavior ) : This is your specific response to the antecedent, such as carrying an umbrella with you when you leave your house.
- C (Consequence ) : This is the effect of your behavior and can influence the likelihood of it happening again in the future. In this case, you stay dry when it starts to rain.
Now, it is crucial to clarify something that is often confused: a discriminative cue alone does not trigger the immediate response. Rather, it suggests what might happen if you perform a certain action or not. In other words, it works as a “trigger” that precedes a specific behavior.
To go back to the example, the fact that the sky is dark does not automatically mean that you decide to take an umbrella. Other factors also come into play, such as your personal preferences, the reason why you are leaving the house (a job interview? a football match with friends?) or your past experiences. The colour of the sky simply warns you that “if it rains and you don’t have an umbrella, you are likely to get wet.”
We explain Skinner’s theory of operant behaviorism: characteristics and examples
Other examples from everyday life
Our daily lives are filled with discriminative cues, even if we are not aware of them. Let’s explore different examples that show how environmental motivations tell us when it is appropriate, or convenient, to perform a specific action.
- Your pet sees you taking his leash. He starts jumping and barking because he knows his walk is coming.
- You are in a restaurant and a waiter brings you the bill, which indicates that it is the right time to pay.
- You receive a calendar notification about a client meeting, letting you know it’s time to get ready to attend.
- You are driving and the traffic light turns red. This alerts you that you must stop the vehicle to avoid an accident or a fine.
- You are in a park and see a sign that says: “Keep off the grass.” In order to protect the public space and avoid a fine, you decide not to walk on that surface.
As you can see, there are a variety of examples of this process in our daily lives, as it covers all areas of our lives. Furthermore, we observe how the discriminative stimulus operates for both humans and animals.
Relationship with delta stimulus
Behaviorism is a psychological current that focuses on the analysis of observable behavior and its relationship with the environment. Here, stimuli play a fundamental role, but they are not all equal .
These take on a wide range of forms and functions, for example, giving rise to discriminative, evocative, reinforcing, conditioned, unconditioned and delta stimulus signals. It is through the interaction between these and the subjects’ responses that behaviour is shaped and new associations are learned.
In particular, the discriminative stimulus is closely linked to the delta stimulus in terms of its function within operant conditioning. The former indicates when it is appropriate to perform an action to obtain reinforcement , the latter indicates when that same response will not be reinforced. In this way, both operate together.
To better understand the relationship, imagine that whenever you clean your house you play music ( discriminative stimulus ). But when you are not cleaning, there is no music (delta stimulus). In this situation, silence indicates that it is not time to clean and therefore you will not get the reward associated with it. The delta stimulus is not related to any kind of consequence.
Use this information to your advantage
They say that information is power. In this case, better understanding human behavior is a great tool to take control of your environment and habits, and thus improve your life in different aspects. Observe your own behavioral patterns and how you respond to the stimuli around you.
Recognize those that drive you toward positive actions and also those that lead you toward less desirable behaviors . Once identified, it is possible to modify your environment to maximize the effects of the discriminative signals that benefit you and reduce those that deviate you from your goals.
For example, if you know that certain stimuli motivate you to exercise, such as seeing your sneakers out of the closet, make sure you always have them in sight. If you want to incorporate the habit of reading before bed, create a specific cue that tells you it’s time to read, such as turning on a warm night light.