What is a problematic aspect of Continuous Reinforcement?

Continuous reinforcement involves providing a reward every time a desired behavior occurs. While this can be very effective in establishing a behavior, one problematic aspect is that it can lead to difficulty maintaining behaviors over time.

As individuals become used to receiving immediate reinforcement for their actions, the absence of that reinforcement can result in the behavior diminishing or ceasing altogether. This is especially evident when transitioning to a schedule of reinforcement that is less frequent or intermittent. In such cases, the desired behavior may not be sustained if the individual is not accustomed to engaging in the behavior without the continuous reward.

This aspect emphasizes the need for a balance in reinforcement strategies, transitioning from continuous reinforcement to more varied or intermittent reinforcement schedules to help establish long-term behavior maintenance.