Escaping Bribery & “Bribery-Land” in ABA: Why Reinforcement Matters
Escaping Bribery & “Bribery-Land” in ABA: Why Reinforcement Matters In Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the goal is to build lasting behavior change through reinforcement-not to negotiate compliance through bribery. Yet in busy classrooms and therapy settings, the line between reinforcement and bribery can blur. This confusion creates what many call “bribery-land.” What Is Bribery? Bribery occurs when something desirable is offered before or during behavior as an attempt to stop or start an action. It’s a strategy-used to gain immediate compliance or end undesirable behavior right now. For example: “If you stop crying, I’ll give you the iPad.” “You can have a cookie if you sit quietly.” These tactics might work in the moment, but they teach the individual that problem behavior controls the environment . Over time, this increases the likelihood of future noncompliance, since the person learns that escalation leads to rewards. What Is Reinforcement? Re...