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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 18th 2024

cofigurative culture

cofigurative culture

a society or culture in which people learn chiefly from other people in the same age group, so that, for example, children learn mostly from children and young adults from young adults. Compare postfigurative culture; prefigurative culture. [coined by U.S. anthropologist Margaret Mead (1901–1978)]