ReinforcementReinforcement is defined as a consequence that follows an operant response that increase (or attempts to increase) the likelihood of that response occurring in the future. Show
Positive ReinforcementIn an attempt to increase the likelihood of a behavior occurring in the future, an operant response is followed by the presentation of an appetitive stimulus. This is positive reinforcement. If you stroke a cat's fur in a manner that is pleasing to the cat it will purr. The cat's purring may act as a positive reinforcer, causing you to stroke the cat's fur in the same manner in the future. Negative ReinforcementIn an attempt to increase the likelihood of a behavior occurring in the future, an operant response is followed by the removal of an aversive stimulus. This is negative reinforcement. When a child says "please" and "thank you" to his/her mother, the child may not have to engage in his/her dreaded chore of setting the table. Therefore, not having to set the table will act as a negative reinforcer and increase the likelihood of the child saying "please" and "thank you" in the future. ReinforcerA behavior (operant response) is sometimes more likely to occur in the future as a result of the consequences that follow that behavior. Events that increase the likelihood of a behavior occurring in the future are called reinforcers. Positive ReinforcerA positive reinforcer is an appetitive event whose presentation follows an operant response. The positive reinforcer increases the likelihood of that behavior occurring again under the same circumstances. Click here for an example of a positive reinforcer. Negative ReinforcerA negative reinforcer is an aversive event whose removal follows an operant response. The negative reinforcer increases the likelihood of that behavior occurring again under the same circumstances. Click here for an example of a negative reinforcer. Primary ReinforcerA primary reinforcer is a reinforcer that is biologically pre-established to act as reinforcement. Food, water, and sex are all primary reinforcers because they satisfy biological desires. Conditioned ReinforcerA conditioned reinforcer is a previously neutral stimulus. If the neutral stimulus is paired with a primary reinforcer it acquires the same reinforcement properties associated with the primary reinforcer. Money is a conditioned reinforcer. The actual paper bills are not themselves reinforcing. However, the paper bills can be used to acquire primary reinforcers such as food, water, and shelter. Therefore, the paper bills become reinforcers as a result of pairing them with the acquisition of food, water, and shelter. Glossary Index | Quotations Positive reinforcement is when a positive outcome or reward follows a behavior. This type of reinforcement is a concept in behavioral psychology that can be used to help teach and strengthen behaviors. This process can be used as part of a formal training program, but it is also something that can occur naturally in everyday situations as well. This article discusses how positive reinforcement works and how it can be used to teach or modify behaviors. It also covers how positive reinforcement compares to negative reinforcement and how it is best applied. In operant conditioning, positive reinforcement involves the addition of a reinforcing stimulus following a behavior that makes it more likely that the behavior will occur again in the future. When a favorable outcome, event, or reward occurs after an action, that particular response or behavior will be strengthened. One of the easiest ways to remember positive reinforcement is to think of it as something being added. By thinking of it in these terms, you may find it easier to identify real-world examples of positive reinforcement. Sometimes positive reinforcement occurs quite naturally. For example, when you hold the door open for someone, you might receive praise and a thank you. That affirmation serves as positive reinforcement and may make it more likely that you will hold the door open for people again in the future. In other cases, someone might choose to use positive reinforcement very deliberately in order to train and maintain a specific behavior. An animal trainer, for example, might reward a dog with a treat after the animal shakes the trainer's hand and pauses for a count of five. Basics of Operant ConditioningOperant conditioning was introduced by the psychologist B. F. Skinner, who based the idea on Thorndike's law of effect. The basic idea behind the law of effect is that the consequences of behavior determine whether that behavior happens again. Reinforced behaviors become strengthened, while punished behaviors are weakened. The four types of reinforcement/punishment are:
Examples of Positive ReinforcementThere are many examples of positive reinforcement in action. Consider the following scenarios:
In each
situation, the reinforcement is an additional stimulus occurring after the behavior that increases the likelihood that the behavior will occur again in the future. Types of Positive ReinforcementThere are many different types of reinforcers that can be used to increase behaviors, but it is important to note that the type of reinforcer used depends on the individual and the situation.
While gold stars and tokens might be very effective reinforcement for a second-grader, they are not going to have the same effect on a high school or college student. For positive reinforcement to be effective, it needs to involve a reward that the individual wants or needs. Positive Reinforcement vs. Negative ReinforcementThe goal of both positive and negative reinforcement is to increase the likelihood that a behavior will occur again in the future. The difference is in how each accomplishes this. Positive reinforcement adds something to strengthen behavior, while negative reinforcement removes something. For example, allowing a child to play on their tablet if they finish their homework is an example of positive reinforcement. Negative reinforcement would be a child finishing their homework to avoid having their tablet taken away. Uses for Positive ReinforcementWhen used correctly, positive reinforcement can be very effective. It can be used in various settings to make desired changes to behavior or teach new behaviors.
While different strategies can be used depending on the situation, some experts suggest that positive reinforcement should be used
more often than negative reinforcement or punishment. How to Use Positive ReinforcementPositive reinforcement can be a useful learning tool in a wide variety of settings. There are things that you can do to make sure that it is used effectively. Be Aware of Reinforcement TimingPositive reinforcement is most effective when it occurs immediately after the behavior. Reinforcement should be presented enthusiastically and should occur frequently.
Use the Right Reinforcement ScheduleIn addition to the timing and type of reinforcement used, the presentation schedule can also play a role in the strength of the response. Schedules of reinforcement can have a powerful influence on how strong a response is and how often it occurs. When you are first teaching a new behavior, you would likely use a continuous reinforcement schedule where you deliver positive reinforcement every single time the behavior occurs. Once the response is established, you would then switch to an intermittent or ratio schedule. Avoid Reinforcing the Wrong BehaviorsAn important thing to note is that positive reinforcement is not always good. Positive reinforcement can also strengthen undesirable behaviors. For example, when a child misbehaves in a store, some parents might give them extra attention or even buy them a toy in an effort to stop the behavior. Children quickly learn that by acting out, they can gain attention from their parents or even acquire objects they want. Essentially, parents are reinforcing the misbehavior. A better solution would be to use positive reinforcement when the child is displaying good behavior. Instead of rewarding the misbehavior, the parents would want to wait until the child behaves well and then reward that good behavior with praise, treats, or even a toy. A Word From VerywellPositive reinforcement can be an effective learning tool when used appropriately. Sometimes this type of learning occurs naturally through normal interactions with the environment. In other cases, parents, teachers, and therapists can use this behavioral technique to help teach new behaviors. When using positive reinforcement, it's important to be thoughtful about the type of reinforcers and the schedule that you use to train the new behavior. When a response is strengthened because it is followed by the presentation of a rewarding stimulus?Chapt 6 vocab -Learning. When a response is strengthened because it is followed by the removal of an adverse stimulus is called?Negative reinforcement: The strengthening of a response through the removal of a stimulus after the response occurs.
Which of the following occurs when an organism continues to make a response to a stimulus even after the reinforcement for that response has been terminated?In operant conditioning, the phenomenon that occurs when an organism continues to make a response after delivery of the reinforcer for it has been terminated.
When a response occurs to a previously neutral stimulus it is called?In classical conditioning, a conditioned response is a learned response to a previously neutral stimulus.
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