CONDITIONED REINFORCEMENT - NEGLECTED OR OUTMODED EXPLANATORY CONSTRUCT

The construct of conditioned reinforcement has been challenged over th e past two decades, both as an adequate explanation of behavior in var ious situations (e.g., behavioral chains) in which it was previously r egarded as crucial and in terms of the validity of the concept of cond itioned value on which it is based. Recent research is reviewed that a nswers these criticisms and vindicates the importance of the construct . Also discussed are unanswered empirical issues regading the concept and its implications for behavioral phenomena of major importance for general-process learning theory, such as autoshaping and imprinting.