Which strategy involves using physical blocking to prevent the occurrence of the target behavior?

• A. Blocking
• B. Extinction
• C. Time-out
• D. Reinforcement

Answer: (A)

Blocking is a strategy that uses physical intervention to prevent the initiation of the target behavior. By intervening as the behavior would start, you physically prevent the learner from performing the action, which stops the behavior before it occurs and often prevents reinforcement from aligning with it. For example, if a learner tends to reach to grab something they shouldn’t, a staff member may gently hold their hands to prevent the grab before it happens. This keeps everyone safe and reduces the chance that the undesired behavior is reinforced in that moment.

Extinction, in contrast, focuses on withholding reinforcement after the behavior has occurred, leading to a gradual decrease over time rather than preventing the behavior from starting in the moment. Time-out is a consequence-based strategy used after the behavior occurs, removing access to reinforcement for a period. Reinforcement involves adding or offering a desirable consequence to increase a target behavior, not blocking its initiation.