ReinforcersReinforcers

PunishmentPunishment

- Examples and description of both positive and negative reinforcement

- Examples and description of both positive and negative punishment

Positive and negative reinforcement and positive and negative punishment are concepts that can be a little difficult to understand. The following can help distinguish between to the differences:

"Negative" refers to the REMOVAL of something.

"Positive" refers to the ADDITION of something.

"Reinforcement" refers to INCREASING a behavior.

"Punishment" refers to DECREASING a behavior.

Positive reinforcer: A stimulus is added to the environment that brings about an increase in a preceding response.

Examples:

After noticing a decline in Anna's grades, her mother told her that if she would study for an extra 15 minutes each evening, she would take her to her choice of movie on Saturday.

After a trip to the dentist, Matt's dad told him he would give him a quarter every time he remembers to brush his teeth without being asked.

Negative reinforcer: An unpleasant stimulus whose removal leads to an increase in the probability that a preceding response will be repeated.

Examples:

* John enjoys a dish of ice cream after his meal, after his last trip to the doctor when his weight was brought up, she has started nagging him to skip

dessert. After a few days of this, John decides it's easier to give up the ice cream than have arguments all the time.

Ted's younger sister is constantly nagging him to let her play his video game – she asks all the time and finally after a few weeks, he gives in and lets her play.

Punishment: A stimulus that decreases the probability that a previous behavior will occur again.

Positive punishment is used to weaken a response through the application of an unpleasant stimulus.

Examples:

Carl is having a rough time getting his new dog house trained. Finally, after several days of accidents on the floor, Carl starts rubbing his dog's nose in the pile of poo every time it has an accident on the rug.

Kevin has just gotten a paddling in the principal's office after getting in a fight on the playground with another boy.

Punishment: A stimulus that decreases the probability that a previous behavior will occur again.

Negative punishment consists of the removal of something pleasant.

After repeated warnings about missing curfew, Lee's parents have taken away the keys to his car indefinitely.

After their rowdy behavior when they had a substitute teacher for the day, Mrs. Brown's entire class had to skip recess for three days.