Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Practice Test

In the context of maintenance, what are functional arrangements between behavior and environmental events called?

1. Natural contingencies

2. Behavioral contracts

3. Structured interventions

4. Environmental arrangements

The correct answer is: Natural contingencies

Functional arrangements between behavior and environmental events are referred to as natural contingencies. This term describes the inherent relationship between specific behaviors and the consequences that naturally follow them within the environment. These arrangements are critical for maintenance because they help sustain behavior change over time by creating real-world associations that individuals experience outside of structured settings, such as therapy or training. Natural contingencies are significant because they allow individuals to engage in behaviors that are reinforced or punished naturally, which supports the generalization and maintenance of learned behaviors. For example, if a child learns that sharing toys results in positive social interactions with peers, this natural reinforcement strengthens the likelihood that they will continue to share in various environments. In contrast, the other choices refer to different concepts. Behavioral contracts involve agreements that define terms and conditions for behavior change but do not necessarily reflect the natural occurrences in the environment. Structured interventions denote specific, planned actions often used in applied behavior analysis but do not inherently describe the organic relationships between behaviors and their consequences. Environmental arrangements often refer to how environments can be organized or modified to influence behavior, but it doesn't specifically capture the functional aspect of behavior in relation to natural consequences.