Reinforcement is at the heart of ABA therapy. It’s how clinicians build new skills, strengthen positive behaviors, and reduce those that are harmful or interfere with learning. However, reinforcement is often confused with bribery, leading caregivers to have questions and concerns. To use reinforcement effectively, it’s important to understand the difference between these two concepts. Let’s take a closer look.
What is Bribery?
Bribery is when you offer something, like a toy, money, or a snack, to try to entice someone to do something or stop something. The item is given either before they engage in a desired behavior or while they’re engaged in a challenging behavior.
For example, imagine you’re about to make an important phone call. You need your child to sit quietly, so you give them a sucker, telling them they can have a sucker for sitting nicely while you’re in the other room. In that example, you’re bribing them to keep quiet. Even though you say they get a sucker for sitting quietly, the child receives it before the behavior is demonstrated, so it doesn’t actually reinforce the behavior.
What is Reinforcement?
Reinforcement occurs when something is given or taken away after a behavior, increasing the likelihood that the behavior will happen again in the future.
Let’s break down an example of positive reinforcement. In an ABA therapy session, a child is learning to use the toilet independently. When they pee in the toilet, their registered behavior technician (RBT) says, “Yay, awesome job going pee in the potty!” They give them a high-five and add a sticker to their token board. Because these rewards are delivered immediately after the behavior, they help strengthen it. When the praise and rewards are meaningful to the child, they’re more likely to use the toilet again in the future.
Reinforcement helps children learn clear connections between their behavior and what happens next.
So What’s the Difference?
There are a few key differences between reinforcement and bribery. First, timing matters. With reinforcement, the reinforcer is given after the desired behavior occurs. Conversely, with bribery, the item is offered either before the desired behavior or in the midst of an undesired behavior.
Second, the outcome of these two methods differs. Reinforcement strengthens the behavior, making it more likely to happen again in the future. Bribery, however, doesn’t teach the child the behavior you want. For example, if your child is screaming and you bribe them by saying, “Here, you can watch TV if you stop screaming,” and then turn on their favorite show, you may stop the behavior temporarily. But you’ve also reinforced the screaming, rather than addressing the root cause or teaching them to communicate their wants and needs.
Reinforcement vs. Bribery at a Glance
To recap:
Reinforcement happens after the behavior and is used to increase desired behaviors and teach skills.
Bribery is reactive, happens before or during behavior, and can increase challenging behaviors. Bribery often stops behavior temporarily without teaching replacement skills.
How to Use Reinforcement Effectively at Home
To avoid the bribery trap, make conscious efforts to use positive reinforcement at home instead. Here are some tips to help you be successful.
- Set clear expectations ahead of time (e.g., when my child does ____, I’ll reinforce with ____).
- Deliver reinforcement immediately after the desired behavior.
- Start with frequent reinforcement, then gradually fade it over time.
- Pair tangible rewards with social rewards, like praise.
- Avoid offering reinforcers during a challenging behavior episode.
Small Shifts Make a Big Impact
Understanding the difference between reinforcement and bribery can help you be more intentional in how you respond to your child’s behavior. When reinforcement is used consistently, children learn what to do instead of just what not to do.
Over time, these small shifts help your child build meaningful skills, increase independence, and boost confidence.