What does a response block procedure primarily do?

The response block procedure is primarily designed to interrupt a behavior and withhold reinforcement, making option B the correct choice. This technique is often employed to manage and reduce maladaptive behaviors by avoiding the reinforcement that may unintentionally be provided when the behavior occurs. By deliberately blocking or interrupting the behavior, practitioners can decrease its occurrence over time since behaviors that are not reinforced are less likely to be repeated.

In contrast, the other choices do not accurately depict the function of a response block procedure. For instance, allowing reinforcement of maladaptive behavior would contradict the goal of reducing such behaviors. Encouraging further engagement in problematic behavior is contrary to the intention of behavior intervention strategies, which seek to diminish those behaviors. Lastly, rewarding desired behavior only in non-social situations does not relate to the fundamental aspect of response blocking, which focuses on withholding reinforcement in the context of behavioral interruption. Overall, the purpose of a response block procedure is to proactively manage behavior by preventing reinforcement of undesirable responses.