ABSTRACT
Adjunctive behavior is behavior that is maintained at a high probability by stimuli which derive their exaggerated reinforcing efficacy primarily as a function of schedule parameters governing the availability of another class of reinforcing events (Falk, 1971). Thus, in a familiar example, an adjunctive behavior (drinking) is maintained at a high probability (polydipsic level) by a stimulus (water) which derives its exaggerated reinforcing efficacy primarily as a function of schedule parameters (variable-interval 1-min) governing the availability of another class of reinforcing events (food pellet delivery to a food-deprived organism). Although the animals are not deprived of water, the interruptions in eating produced by making food available only intermittently induces a water intake during the feeding session that is exaggerated by a factor of 10 compared to the intake produced when the same amount of food is given all at once as a single ration and animals are allowed the same session length to drink. It is the difference between a rat drinking about 10 ml under the latter control condition and the same animal drinking 100 ml (perhaps one half its body weight) in a similar 3 hour period.
