In some situations, trainers experience slow rates of progress, persistent unwanted behaviors, and low levels of learner engagement, even when they have what should be an effective reinforcer. What is often missing is a reinforcement system. While it is convenient to think of reinforcers as “things,” reinforcement involves the interaction between two individuals. These interactions create a “reinforcement system,” which is the interconnected chain of behaviors between a teacher and a learner. In order for a reinforcement system to work effectively, the learner must learn when reinforcement is available, where to go or what to do to access the reinforcer, how to consume the reinforcer, and how to return to the task after consuming the reinforcer.

This Session will explore reinforcement as an interconnected chain of behaviors. We will look at the elements of a reinforcement system and discuss step-by-step procedures that can be used to design and teach new reinforcement systems. Understanding the concept of a reinforcement system will help you maximize the effectiveness of your reinforcers and accelerate your training progress.