Positive reonforcement

Full Answer Section

      Negative Reinforcement:

• Definition: Negative reinforcement strengthens a desired behavior by removing an unpleasant stimulus after the behavior occurs. It's important to note that this is different from punishment (see below).
• Example: You are studying in a noisy library and put on headphones to block out the noise (removing the unpleasant noise is the reinforcement). This increases the likelihood that you will wear headphones again when studying in noisy environments.

Key Distinction: In both positive and negative reinforcement, the goal is to strengthen a desired behavior. The difference lies in what is added (positive) or removed (negative) following the behavior. Extinction:

• Definition: Extinction weakens or eliminates a behavior by withholding reinforcement that previously followed the behavior.
• Example: A child throws a tantrum to get a toy, but the parent ignores the tantrum (withholding reinforcement). Over time, the tantrums may decrease or stop altogether as the child learns they are ineffective.

Important Note: Extinction can be a slow process and may lead to an increase in the unwanted behavior before it decreases (known as an extinction burst). Consistency is key for successful extinction. Punishment vs. Negative Reinforcement Punishment and negative reinforcement both involve something unpleasant happening after a behavior. However, they have different goals:

• Punishment: Aims to decrease an undesired behavior.
• Negative Reinforcement: Aims to increase a desired behavior by removing something unpleasant.

 

Sample Answer

 

Positive Reinforcement:

• Definition: Positive reinforcement strengthens a desired behavior by providing a reward or pleasant consequence after the behavior occurs.
• Example: A child finishes their homework and receives praise from their parent (praise is the reward). This increases the likelihood that the child will finish their homework in the future.