Applied Behavior Analysis Technician (ABAT) Practice Test

What does automatic reinforcement refer to?

1. Reinforcement provided by an external source

2. Reinforcement that occurs without social mediation

3. Negative consequences of a behavior

4. Reinforcement that requires a verbal prompt

The correct answer is: Reinforcement that occurs without social mediation

Automatic reinforcement refers to reinforcement that occurs without the need for social mediation, which means that it does not involve the participation or acknowledgement of another person. This type of reinforcement is significant because it highlights behaviors that are maintained by the natural consequences that result from those behaviors themselves. For example, a child may engage in a specific behavior, such as swinging on a swing, because they find it pleasurable independently of anyone else’s approval or response. The enjoyment or sensory experience derived from swinging is the reinforcement that maintains the behavior. In this sense, automatic reinforcement focuses on the intrinsic benefits that a behavior provides to the individual, rather than extrinsic factors such as praise or rewards provided by others. The other options do not align with the concept of automatic reinforcement. External sources refer to reinforcement that is provided by others, while negative consequences pertain to aversive factors that discourage behavior rather than reinforce it. Additionally, requiring a verbal prompt indicates the involvement of social mediation, thus categorically separating it from automatic reinforcement.