What effect does continuous reinforcement have on behavior once established?

Continuous reinforcement refers to a schedule of reinforcement where every correct behavior is rewarded immediately. This type of reinforcement is effective in establishing a behavior because it provides reliable and consistent feedback to the individual. Once a behavior is established through continuous reinforcement, the individual can become dependent on the constant rewards to maintain that behavior.

This dependency arises because the individual learns to associate the behavior directly with the reward. As a result, when the reinforcement is removed or becomes less frequent, the individual may struggle to maintain the desired behavior without the consistent rewards. This often leads to a reliance on external validation rather than internal motivation, which can hinder the development of self-regulated behaviors.

In contrast, the other options reflect different aspects or consequences of reinforcement strategies that do not align with the effects of continuous reinforcement after a behavior has been established. For instance, while high engagement can be a positive outcome during the reinforcement phase, it does not capture the potential issue of dependency on rewards as behavior becomes established.