ABA Rocks Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) Practice Exam

Noncontingent Reinforcement delivers reinforcers on a time-based schedule that is independent of the learner’s behavior. The idea is to reduce the motivation to emit the problem behavior by providing access to the reinforcer regardless of what the learner does, which can lessen the frequency of the behavior over time. It’s not about waiting for the behavior to occur before giving reinforcement, so it’s not contingent reinforcement. It’s also not punishment; NCR uses reinforcement to decrease the problem behavior by changing the reinforcement conditions, not by applying aversive consequences. For example, giving attention at fixed intervals regardless of what the learner does can reduce the urge to scream for attention because the attention is already available without needing the scream. Properly implemented NCR is often paired with teaching and reinforcing an alternative, appropriate behavior.