Contingent Reinforcement Explained

The term that describes reinforcement given only upon the occurrence of a specific response is Contingent Reinforcement. This means the reinforcement is conditional; it depends on the specific behavior happening first.

Understanding Reinforcement Types

Let's look at why the other options are not the best fit:

• Concurrent Reinforcement: This refers to situations where multiple reinforcement schedules operate simultaneously, and the individual can choose which one to respond to.
• Incremental Reinforcement: This involves gradually increasing the amount or frequency of reinforcement.
• Contingency Contract: This is a formal agreement outlining specific behaviors and their associated reinforcers, but it is the contract itself, not the type of reinforcement.

Contingent Reinforcement directly addresses the conditionality mentioned in the question – reinforcement is provided *if* and *only if* the specified response is made.