Satiation refers to how a reinforcer loses its effectiveness.
For example, if someone
is receiving chocolate as reinforcement, it is likely that after
a time they will tire of it and no longer find it desirable.
Satiation will occur if a reinforcer is given at too high a
frequency, intensity or duration.
Satiation tends to be linear - that is, a graph of the
reinforcing effect of a stimulus against the amount of the stimulus
will be a straight line falling off from left to right. There will
be be a quantity of the stimulus greater than which it will start
to function as a punisher.
When satiation begins, the rate at which the desired behavior is
displayed tapers off until it halts. This is very common with
primary (or unconditioned) reinforcers such as food. Secondary (or
conditioned) reinforcement such as activities, social
opportunities, and learning activities tend to be more immune to
satiation. General reinforcers such as money or praise - that is,
secondary reinforcers that are associated with more than one
primary reinforcer - are also resistant to satiation.
