Behavior Basic #13: A pleasant consequence causes a behavior to occur more frequently.
This fact, this scientific law, underlies all behavioral interventions. This fact tells us how we can increase desired behaviors in learners. Whenever a learner performs a desired behavior, make sure he or she immediately experiences a wonderful consequence! The learner will do that behavior again.
Let’s say a child routinely comes home and tosses her jacket on the floor instead of hanging it on the coat rack. You can say to the child, “The tag point is Jacket On Hook.” As soon as the child hangs the jacket on the hook, give her a high-value treat or token. Every time the child hangs the jacket on the hook, give another treat. Soon your child will hang up her jacket as a matter of course. You have changed her behavior without scolding, nagging or threats. The pleasant consequence of a treat or token, along with praise and happy looks from mom or dad, cause the child to hang up her coat more frequently.
Behavior Basic #14: A pleasant consequence causes a behavior to become stronger.
Not only does a pleasant consequence cause a behavior to occur more frequently, it causes the behavior to become stronger.
Let’s look at the girl in the example above. She continues to hang up her jacket on the hook, and one day, she sees that somebody else’s coat has fallen off the coat rack. She picks it up and replaces it on the hook! If her observant mom or dad have the chance to see this and give her another pleasant consequence, she will continue to pick up more coats, and perhaps tackle the hats and scarves.
REMINDER: This concludes the wrap-up of Behavior Basics for the week. Please remember the schedule: On the release date of each module, the Behavior Basics for that module will be compiled into a PDF ebook available from our blog and Facebook page. Click on this link to download the entire series of 42 Behavior Basics for free: http://statictab.com/m7bizwt.
