What should one be cautious about when reinforcing a target behavior?

When reinforcing a target behavior, it is crucial to be cautious about reinforcing unwanted behaviors. This is because reinforcement strengthens behaviors, and if the reinforcement is applied to behaviors that are not desired, it can lead to an increase in those unwanted behaviors instead of promoting the positive target behavior.

For instance, if a child receives attention for throwing a tantrum, the attention serves as reinforcement, which can inadvertently encourage the child to continue or escalate that behavior in the future. Thus, careful observation and consideration are necessary to ensure that the reinforcement specifically supports the behaviors that are intended to be encouraged.

Reinforcement should be planned and targeted so that it promotes the desired outcomes effectively without unintentionally strengthening behaviors that should be minimized or eliminated.