What does "contingency management" focus on?

Contingency management primarily focuses on modifying behavior through a structured system of rewards and consequences. This approach is rooted in the principles of behaviorism, where behaviors are shaped and maintained by the responses that follow them. By providing positive reinforcement for desired behaviors and consequences for undesired behaviors, contingency management aims to increase the likelihood of desirable behaviors being repeated while decreasing the occurrence of undesirable ones.

This method is often used in various settings, including substance abuse treatment, educational settings, and behavior modification programs, where tangible rewards or privileges are used to reinforce specific actions or compliance, thereby facilitating significant behavior changes. The emphasis on the relationship between behavior and consequences is what makes contingency management a powerful tool in behavior modification practices.

The other options, while related to behavioral interventions, do not accurately describe the core focus of contingency management. For instance, adjusting the therapeutic environment may involve creating a supportive setting but does not specifically address the systematic use of rewards and consequences. Similarly, increasing the number of requests in sessions focuses on communication or engagement rather than behavior modification through contingencies. Administering medication alters behavior through pharmacological means, which is not within the scope of contingency management.