Implications and refinements of the establishing operation concept.

Michael wrote a think-piece, not an experiment. He looked at how behavior analysts talk about 'establishing operations' and found the talk was fuzzy.

He listed seven spots where we need clearer rules. Example: Is attention an EO or just a reinforcer? He showed how to decide.

EO is more than 'hungry vs full'. Attention, escape, and hard schoolwork can also work as EOs once they are learned.

These learned EOs come in two new flavors: transitive (item A makes item B valuable) and reflexive (item A changes its own value).

Abbott (2013) repeats the same fix-it call. Both papers say 'stop arguing about words, look at what the environment is doing.'

Fryling (2017) does the same tidy-up job, but for verbal operants. Together they show the whole Skinner box of tools needs regular cleaning.

Hake (1982) asked for more basic human work so applied folks have solid concepts to use. Michael delivers part of that request by sharpening the EO concept for clinic use.

Next time a client bolts from the table, ask: 'What just became valuable because of what happened before?' Maybe the hard task made escape valuable. Test it. Remove the task for 30 seconds, then re-present it. If work now speeds up, you just saw a transitive conditioned EO in real time. Michael gives you the language to name it, measure it, and teach others.