Eight-year-old Amy always seems to be in "overdrive"-she has trouble sitting still for any length of time. Her teacher occasionally gives her short breaks in which she can get up and move around a bit as a way of releasing pent-up energy. Such breaks occur unpredictably, without regard for whether Amy is behaving appropriately or inappropriately at the time. Research indicates that such noncontingent reinforcement:
A) May improve Amy's behavior somewhat
B) Is likely to make Amy's behavior worse
C) Will probably lead to behavioral contrast
D) Will confuse Amy and significantly increase her anxiety about classroom tasks

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Noncontingent reinforcement, or providing a reward regardless of behavior, has been found to sometimes improve behavior to some extent. The short breaks given to Amy may serve as a way to release her excess energy and allow her to better focus when she returns to her tasks. However, it is important for the breaks to be used selectively and not provided too frequently, as this could reinforce her hyperactive behavior.

Eight-Year-Old Amy Always Seems to Be in "Overdrive"-She Has Trouble