Delay reduction hypothesis

In classical conditioning (learning), the Delay-Reduction Hypothesis states that certain discriminative stimuli (DS) are more effective as conditioned reinforcers (CR) if they signal a decrease in time to a positive reinforcer or an increase in time to an aversive stimulus or punishment. This is often applied in chain link schedules, with the final link being the aversive stimulus or positive (unconditioned) reinforcer.

History
The Delay-Reduction Hypothesis was developed in 1969 by Edmund Fantino.