Group contingencies

Group contingencies are behavior management strategies in which the reinforcement (or consequence) for the entire group is dependent on the behavior of an individual, a select group of individuals, or everyone in the group. The goal is to encourage cooperative behavior and positive peer influence by linking the group’s reinforcement to specific behavior criteria.

Example

In a classroom, a teacher sets up a dependent group contingency where the whole class will earn extra recess time if one particular student, who often struggles with staying seated, can remain in their seat for the entire morning. The entire class encourages the student to stay seated because their reward (extra recess) depends on that student’s behavior. This motivates the group to support and encourage positive behavior, promoting a cooperative atmosphere.

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