What is the process of providing a reinforcer contingent on the client engaging in a behavior you want to increase?

• A. Contingencies of reinforcement
• B. Reinforcement
• C. A reinforcer
• D. Intermittent reinforcement

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is how reinforcement is arranged so the consequence only happens after the target behavior occurs. This setup, where a reinforcer is delivered contingent on the desired behavior, is called contingencies of reinforcement. It creates a clear link: the specific behavior must occur for the reinforcer to be given, which increases how often you’ll see that behavior in the future.

For example, you might give praise only when the client uses a functional communication response. The reinforcer (praise or a preferred activity) is contingent on the communication behavior, so the client learns to use it more often. This differs from just reinforcement in general (which would be giving a reinforcer regardless of behavior), from the reinforcer itself (the item or activity), or from intermittent reinforcement (which describes how often reinforcement is given, not the arrangement that ties reinforcement to the behavior).