According to the principle of contingent reinforcement,a reinforcer loses effectiveness if it is administered when the desired behavior has not been performed.

Contingent Reinforcement

A behavioral principle where the delivery of reinforcement is dependent on the occurrence of a specific behavior.

Reinforcer

Any stimulus that, when presented after a response, increases the likelihood of that response occurring in the future.

Desired Behavior

The specific actions or reactions an organization or individual aims to elicit from others through guidance or incentivization.