Escape Contingency
Escape Contingency is one of the three negative reinforcement contingencies. An escape contingency can be defined as when performing a specific behavior stops an ongoing event.
Some examples are:
- for a child dropping onto the floor followed by the child crying stops the event of the child having to enter the classroom.
- for a student “ending” a math fluency exercise on the computer after finishing three exercises.
- to spit out food to get rid of a bad taste.
- to turn down the volume on the radio to lessen the loud music.
- to put up an umbrella when it is raining to stay dry.
Other Negative Reinforcement Contingencies
- Avoidance Contingency
- Free-Operant Avoidance
Children who are on the spectrum tend to participate more in escape behaviors because they tend to get overwhelmed during transitions and interactions in non-preferred activity situations which brings on the feeling of astounding demands in their eyes.
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