What does continuous reinforcement entail?

Continuous reinforcement involves providing a reinforcement every single time a specific behavior is exhibited. This approach is vital when initially teaching a new behavior because it helps the individual clearly associate the behavior with the reward. The immediate and consistent reinforcement strengthens the behavior and increases the likelihood that it will be repeated in the future.

In contexts where reinforcement occurs every time, the person or animal quickly learns the connection between the behavior and the outcome. For instance, if a dog receives a treat each time it sits on command, the dog will rapidly understand that sitting results in a reward.

Other options describe different reinforcement strategies. For example, reinforcing some occurrences of a behavior refers to partial or intermittent reinforcement, which often leads to more resistant behaviors over time but is not as effective for establishing new behaviors as continuous reinforcement. Gradually increasing reinforcement intensity and randomly reinforcing behaviors involve varying approaches that can make learning less clear and might not support the initial acquisition of a behavior as effectively.