The scenario describes a rapid change from an FR2 to a VR5 schedule which significantly increases the average number of responses required for reinforcement The text directly addresses this stating you thinned this schedule extremely quickly and now olivias performance is suffering what do we consider this well olivia is experienced in ratio strain yes this is what we consider ratio strain when we then or fade too quickly causing response the responding to decrease or to limit we are experiencing ratio strain Ratio strain is a behavioral phenomenon that occurs when the response requirement of a reinforcement schedule is increased too abruptly or excessively This rapid thinning of the schedule leads to a deterioration in performance such as a decrease in response rate pausing or even a cessation of responding often accompanied by emotional responses like frustration Schedule thickening would mean making reinforcement easier to obtain eg from FR5 to FR2 While Olivias performance decrease might resemble a lack of motivation ratio strain is the more precise and technically accurate term describing the specific impact of an improperly thinned ratio schedule Generality refers to the extent to which a behavior maintains and occurs in different environments with different people or with different stimuli which is not the primary issue highlighted here