What is an example of behavior momentum in an ABA therapy session?

Behavior momentum refers to a technique in applied behavior analysis where a therapist starts with tasks that a child is more likely to complete successfully before moving on to more challenging tasks. This approach builds momentum in terms of compliance and reduces resistance to completing less preferred or more difficult tasks.

In the context of the provided choice, a child pointing to their eyes before pointing to their nose illustrates the concept of behavior momentum effectively. This example indicates a sequence of simpler, more manageable behaviors (pointing to their eyes) leading to the next behavior (pointing to their nose). By consistently engaging in these straightforward actions, the child becomes accustomed to participating and is more likely to comply with tasks as they progress in complexity.

Other scenarios, while representing various behavioral principles, do not align with the concept of behavior momentum as clearly. Encouraging a child to complete a disliked task or reinforcing correct answers in a quiz may involve prompting or reinforcement strategies, but do not specifically establish a sequence of engaging behaviors that enhance motivation. Stopping a child from throwing toys focuses on behavior modification rather than building momentum through a series of successful actions. Therefore, the chosen example best encapsulates the essence of behavior momentum by illustrating a gradual progression from easy to slightly more difficult tasks.