B.22 Identify ways behavioral momentum can be used to understand response persistence

Behavioral momentum describes how a behavior can keep going even when conditions change. Im

agine how hard it is to push a heavy object at first, but once it starts moving, it gets easier to keep it going. The same thing happens with behavior. If a behavior is happening frequently, it tends to continue at that rate even after changes are made. On the other hand, behaviors that happen less frequently will continue at that lower rate, even if reinforcement is introduced.

High-Probability Instructional Sequence (High-P): is a strategy where we begin with easy tasks that are likely to be completed and then gradually move to more challenging tasks. By starting with simpler tasks, we build momentum for the more difficult ones.

Example of a High-P sequence:

• Clap your hands

• Touch your nose

• Shrug your shoulders

• Read a word

How Behavioral Momentum Helps Us Understand Response Persistence: Just like pushing a heavy object, a behavior might not change right away after we adjust reinforcement. However, with time, as momentum builds, the behavior becomes more persistent.

Starting with easy tasks that are likely to be done helps build momentum for tackling harder tasks. For example, if a child is given a series of easy instructions ("clap your hands," "touch your nose"), it makes it more likely they’ll follow through with a harder instruction, like "read a word."