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Parents often use both reinforcement and punishment as tools to modify their children’s behavior or to help when working to improve their developmental skills, like sensory processing or fine motor skills. The main purpose of both negative and positive reinforcement is to boost the rate of specific behavior, but they have various differences and similarities. When you introduce the “reinforcement” concept to someone, they become encouraged or motivated to perform a repetitive behavior, which is either:
Differences Between Positive and Negative Reinforcement Positive reinforcement is an operant conditioning concept that presents a desirable reinforcer, so the person repeats their behavior. Negative reinforcement is an operant conditioning concept that presents specific reinforcers that increase the person’s behavior to avoid the reinforcers. Operant conditioning is a form of associative learning where reinforcement or punishment modifies the strength of the behavior. It’s also something used to bring about such learning. Positive Reinforcement Examples Some examples would be:
Negative Reinforcement Examples Some examples would be:
Like with reinforcement, the technical meanings of negative and positive punishment refer to removing or adding a factor in order to obtain the results. They don’t refer to the impact or quality of the punishment. Both punishment and reinforcement can modify behavior. However, the difference between them is punishment is meant to reduce the behavior, whereas reinforcement is used to increase the behavior. But these definitions are different from how we use them in day-to-day life. Usually, in speech, the term “reinforce” means “emphasize”, while the term “punish” means “hurting”. Since, in the traditional sense, punishment has negative side effects (i.e. introducing undesirable stimulus), you should probably lean more towards positive parenting or positive reinforcement. But, you also don’t want to overuse positive reinforcement, since too much of a good thing can produce an undesirable effect. To learn different uses of positive and negative reinforcement to help modify your child’s behavior, you could talk with their pediatric occupational therapist for some ideas. Post navigation In the world of behavior modification and operant conditioning, researchers widely agree that positive reinforcement is one of the more effective ways to teach a new behavior, and much of the work on this concept was brought into prominence by B. F. Skinner. Skinner taught at Harvard from the late 1940s through the 1970s, and he pioneered many of the groundbreaking experiments on operant conditioning in animals (which he and others then applied to humans). Rather than focus on the inner workings of the mind like many of his peers did during the mid-20th century, Skinner chose to focus on the manifestations of behavior. In other words, he focused on what his subjects did and did not do, particularly in response to some sort of stimulus, rather than how the subjects felt or thought about the stimulus. The concept of operant conditioning is simple enough: behavior that is followed by something pleasant or desirable is more likely to be repeated, while behavior that has unpleasant consequences is less likely to be repeated. In the lab, this might look like teaching a mouse to push a certain lever. The lever on the right gives a small piece of food, and the lever on the left delivers a small electrical shock. In a very short amount of time, the mouse learns which lever to push and which lever to avoid. As we delve into the topic of positive and negative reinforcement, we will also talk about what the terms mean in the field of psychology and how they might apply to the way parents or caregivers manage behavior in children. Reinforcement: Where punishment is designed to discourage undesired behaviors, reinforcement is something that encourages a particular behavior or action. Punishment and reinforcement are often used in combination to craft a child’s behaviors (as well as an adult’s behaviors!), and you can learn more about punishment by reading our prior post on Positive vs. Negative Punishment. The two types of reinforcement are positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement. Positive Reinforcement: As with other cases in the psychology of operant conditions, “positive” does not mean something that is enjoyable or fun. Positive simply means that something is added, so it may help to think of positive as “plus” and negative as “minus.” Positive reinforcement, therefore, means something is added to increase or encourage desirable behavior. Like positive punishment, positive reinforcement may occur as a natural result of the behavior (like receiving a good grade due to putting in extra study hours), or it may occur because someone else provides the reinforcement as a consequence of a behavior. Let’s look at some more examples of positive reinforcement to get a better idea of how positive reinforcement can be applied. Examples of Positive ReinforcementPraise and compliments: One of the easiest things a parent can do to reinforce good behavior is to notice it and compliment the behavior. For example, “I appreciated your good manners at dinner. Saying please and thank you is such a grown-up thing to do.” Recognition: Public praise, as when a teacher compliments a child in front of the class or in front of other teachers, is another form of positive reinforcement. Attaching a good quiz grade on the refrigerator is another good example of how to recognize (and therefore reward) effort and focus. Physical expressions: Fist-bumps, high-fives, a wink and a grin, or a literal pat on the back are all simple ways to signify, “Good job,” or, “I’m pleased by your actions.” Quality time: Spending one on one time with someone special, such as making crafts with Dad, playing a game with Mom, or reading with a big sister are all ways to recognize and reward desired behavior. In many cases, misbehavior is a way to seek attention, so rewarding good behavior with attention and quality also helps to counteract the child’s need for attention-grabbing misbehavior. Special assignments: Children love the idea of being in charge, so allowing them to be in charge of something, especially after they demonstrated responsibility, is another way to reinforce the target behavior. Being a teacher’s helper or getting to choose first which chore to do are subtle but significant ways to use positive reinforcement. Extra time or free time: Spending more than the typical amount of time doing a pleasurable activity, like playing outside or watching cartoons, is another way to reward good behavior. Extra screen time can also be used as a reinforcer, especially when screen time is generally limited to specific times of the day or a certain amount of time. Special snacks, money, or gifts: Going out for ice cream after finishing a tough assignment or receiving compensation such as cash or toys for completing tasks are some of the clearest and most common examples of positive reinforcement. An important thing to note about positive reinforcement is that it does encourage behaviors, so it is critical to recognize that undesired behaviors can also be reinforced. For example, when a student calls another kid a name, they may receive positive reinforcement in the form of their friend’s laughter. The name-caller may have to write lines about bullying (positive punishment) or they may have to skip recess (negative punishment), but the reward of laughter from peers (positive reinforcement) may outweigh the punishment. Understanding possible reinforcers from the point of view of the child will help teachers, parents, and caregivers evaluate the best way to deter that behavior (name-calling) while encouraging good behavior, like recognizing and reinforcing acts of kindness. Negative Reinforcement: In the sense that negative means to take something away, negative reinforcement is when a stimulus is removed as a method to encourage specific behavior. Sometimes the term negative reinforcement gets confused with punishment, but remember that reinforcement encourages a behavior, while punishment discourages a behavior. In the case of negative reinforcement, the examples are typically when something ends or is avoided because the stimulus is removed. Examples of Negative ReinforcementAvoiding or ending nagging: When Rafael’s mother continues to remind him that he has to do the dishes and the nagging stops once he does the dishes, this is an example of negative reinforcement. In other words, the unpleasant stimulus (nagging) ends when the desired behavior is achieved. If instead of nagging Rafael’s mother took away his iPad, then that would be an example of negative punishment. Stopping alarms or other noises: That steady beeping that occurs in a car until the seatbelt is buckled is another example of negative reinforcement. The beeping ends when the desired behavior (buckling the seatbelt) occurs. Avoiding any unpleasant stimulus: When someone does something proactively to avoid an unpleasant consequence, they are practicing negative reinforcement. Leaving for work early to avoid traffic, putting on shoes to avoid stepping on something sharp, and slathering on sunscreen to avoid a sunburn are all examples of negative reinforcement in practice. Just like positive reinforcers, negative reinforcers can also be factors in encouraging undesired behaviors. Parents and caregivers should be aware of the ways they may be inadvertently encouraging unwanted behaviors. For example, little Junie pouts because she does not want to eat creamed broccoli, so Auntie Marion takes the broccoli away. By removing the broccoli, Auntie Marion has provided reinforcement for Junie’s pouting, and the side effect is that Junie has been encouraged to pout when she does not want to do something (like eat creamed broccoli). Positive reinforcement might look like Junie being allowed to have extra dessert as a reward for trying the broccoli, and this method would be more likely to encourage the desired behavior. Why Should I Reward My Child for Doing What They Are Supposed to Do?Rewards for good behavior exist at all levels of society, and consistent application of reinforcers should not be confused with bribing a child to “be good.” Adults work, and they receive compensation for that work. Sometimes, they receive bonuses or extra pay for special work, and most corporate cultures have some sort of system in place to recognize and reward the desired actions of their employees. “Employee of the Month” recognition, special parking spaces, getting the opportunity to work on an interesting assignment, and promotions are all examples of positive reinforcers in the workplace. Likewise, children are working at the job of learning to be good humans who contribute in a useful way to their home, their school, and their community. Directing and rewarding their efforts is one of the ways to help encourage them at their “job,” just as adults are more likely to perform well when they are recognized and rewarded for their jobs. In a 2010 study of the efforts of the Earning by Learning group found that incentivizing children to read not only improved reading comprehension in a group of Dallas schoolchildren, it also created a behavior (reading) that continued in many students even after the program ended. The group offered $2 for every book read provided the student passed a short quiz after reading the book. It turns out that kids like earning their own money, and so they accepted the “job” of reading in return for a monetary reward. The Earning by Learning team eschews the word “bribery,” noting that it had connotations of rewarding corrupt behavior. In positive reinforcement, good behaviors are reinforced through various kinds of rewards. Positive reinforcement at home can look very much the same. Creating an incentive chart where stickers or check marks are made each time the child finishes a chore or specific activity provides small incentives (the sticker or checkmark) that can be added up to redeem bigger incentives (like a trip to a favorite park with a friend or getting to pick out a new toy) is used by teachers and parents alike to create a system of reinforcement. Reinforcement vs. PunishmentUsing reinforcement rather than punishment gives kids and adults alike a sense of control over what happens to them, and it also does what punishment often fails to do, namely, to provide a roadmap for learning what kinds of behaviors are good and acceptable (vs. simply learning what not to do). But My Child Is Not Doing ANYTHING I Want to Reinforce! Baby steps, my friend. Baby steps. Skinner and other behavioral psychologists also explored ways to reinforce close approximations of the desired behavior. This concept is called shaping, and it is a useful way to guide the child toward the desired behavior even before they exhibit it. Shaping involves breaking actions and behaviors down into smaller steps and reinforcing close and closer approximations of the desired behavior, until, eventually, the desired behavior is achieved (and reinforced). For example, a child routinely throws tantrums upon not getting cookies. This behavior is ignored or punished, but then one day the child does not throw a tantrum and instead only sulks. While sulking is not something the parent wants to reinforce, it is a behavior change that is better than screaming, so some form of reinforcement, such as saying, “I am proud of the way you are trying to control your temper,” is a way to recognize that sulking is better than screaming. Another example of shaping may occur when teaching complex or longer duration actions, such as having a child clean their room or complete a protracted homework project. Rather than having the child clean the entire room, the parent or caregiver breaks the task into smaller parts with small reinforcements (praise, a healthy snack, a story). To give the child a greater sense of control, the parent may also offer the child choices. For example, the parent may say, “Would you like to put away your clothes, pick up your toys, or make your bed? You can decide which one you want to do first.” The child then has some level of ownership since they chose the activity. Primary and Secondary ReinforcersReinforcers can be divided into things that innately drive behavior in humans and other animals (primary reinforcers) and things that have no value in and of themselves but are linked to primary reinforcers (secondary reinforcers). Because they happen naturally and are intrinsically embedded in our need for safety and survival, primary reinforcers are also called unconditioned reinforcers or unconditioned stimulus. Examples of Primary ReinforcersFood: Edible treats are the primary reinforcers for teaching animal behaviors, like providing a treat to teach a dog to sit, but food can also be motivating for children and adults. An ice cream sundae is a perfectly acceptable reward for completing an unpleasant task (no matter how old you are!), but you can also see primary reinforcement occurring when a baby cries to be fed. The baby issues a stimulus (crying) that is removed when the baby eats (positive reinforcement for the baby). Seen another way, the parents want to stop the crying, so they feed the baby (negative reinforcement for the parent). Pleasure: When something produces a pleasurable sensation, it is more likely to be repeated (which is why sex is such a powerful behavior motivator in adults). But other pleasurable activities, like floating in a cool lake on a hot day or having your back scratched, are also ways to produce a physical sensation that is enjoyable. Other things, like water, shelter, and sleep or rest are also considered primary reinforcers. Examples of Secondary ReinforcersMoney: Money is only useful if used to acquire things, and the paper or metal that money is made from is only useful if the money can be spent on things that provide primary reinforcement. For example, stacks of cash have no value on a deserted island, but food, water, and shelter have intrinsic value. Money is only as good as what it can be exchanged for. Stickers: Many teachers and parents use behavioral charts with stickers awarded for certain actions and behaviors. The stickers have no true intrinsic value, but they are linked to reinforcers in a sort of token economy where more stickers equal more and better rewards. Collecting stickers to acquire something that is pleasurable is another example of a secondary reinforcer. A Note About Love and AffectionLove is not a biological need per se, but love and affection are closely tied to one’s overall health, well-being, and sense of self-worth. Hugs, expressions of warmth, and many types of praise are all considered generalized reinforcers and can be used to reinforce behavior as well as to build stronger bonds between the child and the parent or caregiver. Does Positive and Negative Reinforcement Really Work?As with other types of behavior modification, making positive and negative reinforcement work for your child comes down to a few key tenets: the reinforcement must be relevant to the child, it must be applied with some consistency, and it must be evaluated for effectiveness as you go. Like punishment, reinforcement is also much more effective when it is paired with the desired behavior as soon as possible after the behavior occurs. Want some more examples of punishment and reinforcement as characterized by Disney movies? Check out this clip to see how your favorite characters demonstrate the main principles of operant conditioning. What is the difference between positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement with example?An example of positive reinforcement is: A child receives money for doing chores. Negative reinforcement is where instead of being rewarded with an item for making positive choices, and item or stimulus is removed after a specific behavior is shown.
What are the difference between negative and positive reinforcement?Positive reinforcement is a process that strengthens the likelihood of a particular response by adding a stimulus after the behavior is performed. Negative reinforcement also strengthens the likelihood of a particular response, but by removing an undesirable consequence.
What is positive reinforcement with example?As noted above, positive reinforcement refers to introducing a desirable stimulus (i.e., a reward) to encourage the behavior that is desired. An example of this is giving a child a treat when he or she is polite to a stranger.
What is an example of a negative reinforcement?Examples of Negative Reinforcement
Giving a pass to the car behind to avoid its honking. Getting up from the bed to avoid the noisy alarm. Taking an antacid before having a spicy meal. Applying sunscreen before heading to the beach to avoid getting sunburned.
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What is the difference between positive and negative reinforcement with example
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