When attempting to change behavior it is typical to focus on the behavior one wants to change. Often overlooked is the reason the behavior is occurring as it is, in other words, the consequence maintaining the behavior. When change procedures target a behavior without reference to the maintaining contingency, one contingency is often superimposed upon another. Since the underlying contingency has been left unchanged, removal of the change procedures may result in the return of the original pattern.

This presentation will describe the difference between using one consequence to mitigate the effect of another and providing the same critical consequence for two different patterns, and the implications for trainers.