Reinforcement
The process by which a consequence following a behavior makes that behavior more likely to occur again in the future.
Reinforcement is one of the core principles of behavior analysis. It refers to any consequence delivered after a behavior that increases the future likelihood of that behavior. A consequence is only a reinforcer if it actually strengthens behavior; whether something functions as reinforcement is defined by its effect, not by whether people assume it should be rewarding.
There are two types. In positive reinforcement, something is added to the environment after the behavior, such as praise, access to a preferred activity, or earning a token. In negative reinforcement, something aversive is removed or avoided, such as ending a difficult task once the student completes a step. Both forms increase behavior; the difference is whether a stimulus is presented or withdrawn.
Reinforcement is most effective when it is timely, consistent, and tied to behaviors the team genuinely wants to increase. Practitioners track reinforcement schedules and behavior frequency over time so they can judge whether a chosen reinforcer is working and fade it appropriately as skills become established.