In contingency management, rewards are typically contingent on which behaviors?

• A. Attendance and verified sober behavior
• B. Completing assignments regardless of sobriety
• C. Attending but not necessarily sober behavior
• D. Donating to the program

Answer: (A)

In contingency management, reinforcement is tied to observable behaviors that show progress in treatment, typically attendance at sessions and verification of sobriety. The key is that rewards are earned only when both being present and proving abstinence are demonstrated, usually through objective tests. This creates a direct link between the desired recovery behavior and the incentive.

Why this combination works well: attending sessions keeps the person engaged with treatment, while verified sobriety confirms that the abstinence goal is being met. The rewards then reinforce the actual change in behavior rather than simply participation.

Why the other options aren’t as appropriate: completing assignments regardless of sobriety would reward behavior without proving abstinence, which undermines the purpose of contingency management. Attending without requiring sobriety means rewards could be earned without evidence of abstinence. Donating to the program isn’t tied to the individual’s recovery behaviors, so it isn’t a metric for reinforcing abstinence or engagement.