Satiation is described as which of the following statements?

• A. An abolishing operation (value decrease) due to over-exposure
• B. An establishing operation (value increase) due to scarcity
• C. To be at capacity or over-supplied
• D. A stimulus that is aversive or non-preferred

Answer: (A)

Satiation is the decrease in the reinforcing value of a stimulus that occurs after continued or recent exposure. This drop in value makes it an abolishing operation, a change that temporarily reduces how reinforcing the stimulus is and often lowers the likelihood of seeking it out again for a while. For example, after consuming a lot of crackers, crackers may stop being as appealing, even if they were highly preferred before.

This differs from scarcity, which would increase value (an establishing operation). It’s not about a stimulus being aversive or non-preferred, which would influence avoidance rather than reducing the reinforcer’s value. It’s not simply about being at capacity; the key idea is the decreased reinforcing value due to over-exposure.