Accidental Reinforcement

Accidental Reinforcement

accidental reinforcement is the accidental occurrence of a reinforcer after an act, which may inadvertently strengthen the likelihood of occurrence of that act. Superstitious behavior is often a result of accidental reinforcement. For example, a golfer might lean as a putt nears the hole. Such learning has been followed in the past by the ball going in the hole (the reinforcer), so even though leaning has no causal effect on whether the ball goes in, the accidental contingent relationship between leaning and the ball being holed leads to reinforcement of leaning. Also called adventitious reinforcement.