Stimulus
Stimuli are events in the environment that influence behavior. A single stimulus can serve many different functions. There are 6 different types of stimulus events that are listed below
DISCRIMINATIVE:
A discriminative stimulus influences the occurrence of an operant response because of the contingencies of schedules of reinforcements or paradigms of reinforcements/punishments that are or have been associated with that response.
ELICITING STIMULUS:
An eliciting stimulus is a change in the environment that is highly correlated with the occurrence of a later response.
EMOTIONAL STIMULUS:
Some stimuli may produce an emotional reaction which may influence the occurrence of behavior.
For example, a game of backgammon might be interrupted by news of the unexpected death of a famous politician.
REINFORCING STIMULUS:
A reinforcing stimulus is one that increases the occurrence of behaviors that it follows.
For instance, the receipt of a trophy may increase the chances of a young girl competing in a yearly road race.
NOMINAL STIMULUS:
A discriminative stimulus may have many identifiable attributes. Although we can readily observe the organism's response to the whole stimulus, it may not be clear exactly which attributes of the stimulus are controlling the behavior. The analyzable stimulus as a whole is said to be the nominal stimulus.
FUNCTIONAL STIMULUS:
The functional stimulus refers to the specific attributes of the discriminative stimulus that exert control over the organism's behavior.
Your friend may have been particularly interested in the car's color.
DISCRIMINATIVE:
A discriminative stimulus influences the occurrence of an operant response because of the contingencies of schedules of reinforcements or paradigms of reinforcements/punishments that are or have been associated with that response.
ELICITING STIMULUS:
An eliciting stimulus is a change in the environment that is highly correlated with the occurrence of a later response.
EMOTIONAL STIMULUS:
Some stimuli may produce an emotional reaction which may influence the occurrence of behavior.
For example, a game of backgammon might be interrupted by news of the unexpected death of a famous politician.
REINFORCING STIMULUS:
A reinforcing stimulus is one that increases the occurrence of behaviors that it follows.
For instance, the receipt of a trophy may increase the chances of a young girl competing in a yearly road race.
NOMINAL STIMULUS:
A discriminative stimulus may have many identifiable attributes. Although we can readily observe the organism's response to the whole stimulus, it may not be clear exactly which attributes of the stimulus are controlling the behavior. The analyzable stimulus as a whole is said to be the nominal stimulus.
FUNCTIONAL STIMULUS:
The functional stimulus refers to the specific attributes of the discriminative stimulus that exert control over the organism's behavior.
Your friend may have been particularly interested in the car's color.