terminal behavior

1. relatively unvaried behavior that is predominant in the period shortly before reinforcement occurs during operant or instrumental conditioning. Compare adjunctive behavior.

2. a response that either is not part of an organism’s current behavioral repertoire or is not occurring at a desired rate, strength, or magnitude. Increasing terminal behavior is the aim of specific behavioral interventions.

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Psychology term of the day

October 9th 2024

method of absolute judgment

a psychophysical procedure in which stimuli are presented in random order to a participant, whose task is to place each stimulus in a particular category. The stimuli usually vary along one or two dimensions, such as brightness or loudness. Also called absolute-judgment method.