What is a potential unwanted effect of reinforcement?

Behavior contrast is a potential unwanted effect of reinforcement that can occur when reinforcement is used in behavioral interventions. This phenomenon happens when an individual reduces the frequency of a behavior in one context after it has been reinforced in another context. For example, if a child receives praise for a specific behavior at home but does not receive similar reinforcement at school, they may engage less in that behavior at school, leading to a noticeable difference (contrast) in behavior across environments.

This effect highlights the importance of consistent reinforcement in various settings to avoid confusion and to maintain the desired behavior. While reinforcement generally aims to increase desired behaviors, behavior contrast illustrates that the effects can sometimes lead to unintended consequences that necessitate careful planning and monitoring of reinforcement strategies across different contexts.