Definition
Dependent Group Contingencies (also known as the Hero Procedure) is a group reinforcement strategy in which the entire group’s access to reinforcement is contingent upon the behavior or performance of one learner or a small group of learners. The individual or small group must meet specific behavior criteria for the whole group to earn the reward, placing social pressure and motivation on the selected learner(s) to perform the target behavior.
Example
In a classroom setting, a teacher implements a dependent group contingency where the entire class will earn extra recess time if one student completes their math assignments without talking during the lesson. If the selected student meets the goal, the whole class receives the reward. This strategy encourages the selected student to complete the task while leveraging peer influence as an additional motivator.