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You tilt the bottle thereby pouring prosecco all over Zac's trousers. You might say, the goal of my actions was not to soak Zac's trousers but to fill his glass.

 

As this illustrates, some actions involving are instrumental in the sense that

 

among all their actual and possible consequences,

 

there are outcomes to which they are directed

 

In such cases we can say that the actions are clearly instrumental.

 

Concerning any such actions, we can ask What is the relation between an instrumental action and the outcome or outcomes to which it is directed?

 

The standard answer to this question involves intention.

 

An intention (1) specifies an outcome,

 

(2) coordinates the one or several activities which comprise the action;

 

and (3) coordinate these activities in a way that would normally facilitate the outcome’s occurrence.

 

What binds particular component actions together into larger instrumental actions? It is the fact that these actions are all parts of plans involving a single intention. What singles out an actual or possible outcome as one to which the component actions are collectively directed? It is the fact that this outcome is represented by the intention.

 

So the intention is what binds component actions together into instrumental actions and links the action taken as a whole to the outcomes to which they are directed.

 

may be rewarding; if it is ...

 

When the action is performed in the presence of the simulus, the connection is strengthened (or ‘reinforced’) if the action is rewarded.

 

If the connection is strong enough, the presence of the stimulus will cause the action to occur.

 

Let’s check we all understand the key terms here.

 

Action may be a complex, coordinated instrumental action, such as pressing a lever.