Maintaining stimuli is a term which according to Guthrie refers to the internal or external stimuli that keep an organism active until a goal is reached.
In psychology, maintaining stimuli refer to the environmental or situational factors that contribute to the maintenance of a particular behavior or condition. Here are some examples of maintaining stimuli:
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Reinforcement: Reinforcement is a maintaining stimulus that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. Positive reinforcement occurs when a behavior is followed by a pleasant consequence, such as praise or a reward. Negative reinforcement occurs when a behavior results in the removal of an aversive stimulus, such as turning off a loud alarm.
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Punishment: Punishment is a maintaining stimulus that decreases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. Positive punishment occurs when a behavior is followed by an unpleasant consequence, such as a reprimand or a spanking. Negative punishment occurs when a behavior results in the removal of a pleasant stimulus, such as taking away a toy.
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Environmental cues: Environmental cues are maintaining stimuli that provide information about the appropriate behavior in a particular situation. For example, the presence of a Stop sign at an intersection signals to drivers that they should come to a complete stop.
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Social influence: Social influence is a maintaining stimulus that can affect behavior through the influence of others. Peer pressure is an example of social influence that can lead individuals to engage in behaviors that they may not otherwise do.
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Habit: Habits are maintaining stimuli that are formed through repeated behavior in a particular context. For example, brushing your teeth before bed becomes a habit that is maintained through the contextual cue of getting ready for bed.
Overall, maintaining stimuli are important in understanding the factors that contribute to the maintenance of behavior and conditions. By identifying these stimuli, psychologists can develop interventions that target the maintaining factors to promote behavior change.
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