Which term refers to consequences that increase the likelihood of a behavior being repeated?

Which term refers to consequences that increase the likelihood of a behavior being repeated?

• A. Readiness
• B. Reinforcement
• C. Motivation
• D. Feedback

Answer: (B)

Reinforcement is the idea that a consequence following a behavior makes that behavior more likely to happen again. When you provide a reinforcing outcome—like praise, a reward, or the removal of a disliked condition—you’re strengthening the behavior, so it’s more likely to occur in the future. There are two common forms: positive reinforcement, which adds something pleasant, and negative reinforcement, which removes something unpleasant to encourage the behavior. This concept matters in health and kinesiology because reinforcing healthy routines—such as recognizing effort after a workout or removing barriers after a successful session—helps behaviors become habits. Readiness and motivation describe internal states that influence whether you start a behavior, but they don’t specify how the behavior is made more likely to recur. Feedback provides information about performance, which can guide improvement, but isn’t by itself the consequence that increases repetition unless it functions as reinforcement.

Reinforcement is the idea that a consequence following a behavior makes that behavior more likely to happen again. When you provide a reinforcing outcome—like praise, a reward, or the removal of a disliked condition—you’re strengthening the behavior, so it’s more likely to occur in the future. There are two common forms: positive reinforcement, which adds something pleasant, and negative reinforcement, which removes something unpleasant to encourage the behavior.

This concept matters in health and kinesiology because reinforcing healthy routines—such as recognizing effort after a workout or removing barriers after a successful session—helps behaviors become habits. Readiness and motivation describe internal states that influence whether you start a behavior, but they don’t specify how the behavior is made more likely to recur. Feedback provides information about performance, which can guide improvement, but isn’t by itself the consequence that increases repetition unless it functions as reinforcement.