What occurs when an environmental change follows a response and leads to an increase in that response in the future?

The correct response is centered on the concept of reinforcement, which is a fundamental principle in behavior analysis. When an environmental change, often referred to as a consequence, follows a response and results in an increase of that response in the future, what you're observing is reinforcement in action.

Reinforcement occurs in two forms: positive and negative. Positive reinforcement involves the addition of a stimulus that is perceived as rewarding, thereby increasing the likelihood of the behavior being repeated. For example, a child who receives praise (a positive change in the environment) after completing their homework is more likely to do homework in the future because of the positive feedback. Negative reinforcement, on the other hand, involves the removal of an aversive stimulus after a response, also increasing the likelihood of that response occurring again.

This relationship is crucial because it drives behavior change and learning. Therefore, when an environmental change effectively boosts a response's future occurrence, it clearly exemplifies reinforcement.

While other terms like reward, antecedent, and consequence also play a role in understanding behavior, they do not specifically define the cause-and-effect relationship where a behavior is strengthened as a result of a specific consequence linked directly to that behavior.