When your child refuses to tidy up their toys, pulls their sibling’s hair, or throws a tantrum, the last thing you might consider is offering them a reward. We completely understand that feeling. However, reinforcing positive behavior — which might include providing a reward — can significantly increase the chances of that behavior happening again in the future. This method falls under operant conditioning, a learning approach where new behaviors are learned and modified based on their consequences. For you as a parent, using reinforcement can help promote the behaviors you want your child to adopt, like cleaning up their toys and not pulling hair. One particularly effective approach for encouraging and motivating your child (without sparking a conflict) is intermittent reinforcement.
Once a new behavior is established, parents often turn to partial or intermittent reinforcement to further solidify that behavior. Instead of reinforcing the desired behavior at all times, intermittent reinforcement means that the correct response is rewarded only occasionally.
What is Intermittent Reinforcement?
Intermittent reinforcement is a conditioning schedule where a reward or consequence is given sporadically for the desired behavior. This contrasts with continuous reinforcement, where a child receives a reward every time the behavior occurs. For instance, under a continuous reinforcement schedule, a child might get an additional hour of screen time each time they finish their math homework. In contrast, with intermittent reinforcement, the child would receive screen time after their homework, but only occasionally and unpredictably.
What is an Intermittent Reinforcement Schedule?
In this schedule, various amounts of time pass between rewards. The type of reinforcement remains the same (e.g., an hour of screen time after homework), but the intervals vary randomly, perhaps ranging from one to five days or two to four hours. Because your child cannot predict when they will receive the reward, they are more likely to maintain consistent behavior, like completing homework.
Why does this approach work? Consider this: if you consistently received a reward (like screen time) every time you performed a task but then suddenly stopped getting it, you would likely revert to old habits. However, if you knew that the reward would eventually come, you would be less inclined to abandon the behavior altogether, as you would anticipate receiving it soon.
This explains why intermittent reinforcement can lead to more sustained behavior compared to continuous reinforcement, which involves rewarding every instance of a behavior. It’s the uncertainty of receiving something desirable that keeps us motivated to continue the behavior.
There are four types of intermittent schedules categorized into two groups: interval (time-based) and ratio (response-based), and further divided into fixed and variable. These schedules include:
- Fixed Interval Schedule: A response is rewarded after a specific amount of time.
- Fixed Ratio Schedule: A response is rewarded after a certain number of actions.
- Variable Interval Schedule: A response is rewarded after an unpredictable amount of time.
- Variable Ratio Schedule: A response is rewarded after a random number of actions.
Examples of Intermittent Reinforcement
One relatable example of intermittent reinforcement is visiting an arcade. Your child may not win every game or earn the same number of tickets each time. The sporadic reinforcement of winning tickets creates a thrill, thanks to dopamine!
Fishing also serves as a great analogy. You might take your child to the same fishing spot daily, but the number of catches will vary. Past successes keep you both returning in hopes of the big catch.
From a parenting perspective, an example could be sporadically disciplining a child who throws tantrums in public. If you consistently give them a toy each time, that would be continuous reinforcement. If you only discipline them occasionally, it becomes an irregular form of reinforcement.
Scenarios for 4 to 10-Year-Olds
- 4 to 7-Year-Olds: Your child is on their iPad. When you ask them to put it away, they request five more minutes. You grant the extra time. The next night, they ask again, but you take the iPad away, leading to a pout.
- 8 to 10-Year-Olds: After making lunch, your child requests to switch a healthy item for a snack. You initially refuse, and they come home with the healthy item uneaten. A week later, you allow them to choose a snack.
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In summary, using intermittent reinforcement in parenting can effectively encourage and maintain desired behaviors in children. By not always providing rewards, you create an unpredictable environment that can lead to more consistent positive behaviors.
Keyphrase: Intermittent Reinforcement in Parenting
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