What is Reduce reward frequency?
This technique involves gradually decreasing how often rewards are provided for the target behavior, shifting from continuous to intermittent reinforcement to build persistence.
How it works
Continuous reinforcement (reward every time) is optimal for establishing a new behavior, but intermittent reinforcement (reward sometimes) produces behavior that is more resistant to extinction. Thinning the reinforcement schedule gradually transitions the behavior from reward-dependent to self-sustaining. The schedule must be thinned slowly: abrupt removal of rewards can extinguish the behavior entirely.
Applied example
A child who initially receives a sticker for every homework completion transitions to a sticker for every third session, then to a weekly assessment. The intermittent schedule maintains the behavior while reducing dependence on external rewards.
Why it matters
Reducing reward frequency is the bridge between externally-motivated and intrinsically-sustained behavior, essential for any reinforcement-based program that needs to end eventually.
