Reinforcement

= Positive vs. Negative Reinforcement =

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__**Examples of positive reinforcement**__
 * Positive reinforcement strengthens a behavior ** by providing a consequence an individual finds rewarding. For example, if your teacher gives you £5 each time you complete your homework (i.e. a reward) you are more likely to repeat this behavior in the future, thus strengthening the behavior of completing your homework.

Positive reinforcement occurs when a particular stimulus is presented after a behavior, and the behavior increases as a result. __**The word positive does not mean "good" in this cas****e**__, but means that __**something is added**.__ Positive reinforcement comes in many forms, including concrete reinforcers, social reinforcers, and activity reinforcers.

A concrete reinforcer is something tangible that can be seen. For example, if Charlotte does all of her homework, her mom gives her a sticker. A social reinforcer is a gesture from another person in response to a behavior. For example, if Adam slam-dunks a basketball, his friend gives him a high five. An activity reinforcer is an opportunity to engage in a fun activity. People will do something they don't enjoy for a chance to do something that they do enjoy. For example, if Jennifer cleans her room, her mom will take her out for icecream.

__**Examples of negative reinforcement**__ **Negative Reinforcement is** the removal of an unpleasant reinforcer. It can also strengthen the behavior, because it is the **removal of an adverse stimulus** which is ‘rewarding’ to the animal. Negative reinforcement strengthens behavior because it stops or removes an unpleasant experience. For example, if you do not complete your homework you give your teacher £5. You will complete your homework to avoid paying £5, thus strengthening the behavior of completing your homework.

Negative reinforcement is when a particular stimulus is removed after a behavior, and this causes the behavior to increase as a result. **__Negative in this sense does not mean "bad",__ __but that something is subtracted or taken away__**. For example, if Megan's mom is always nagging her to wash the dishes (nagging is the stimulus) and when Megan does the dishes, her mom stops nagging her, then negative reinforcement has occurred. From now on, Megan is more likely to do the dishes if only to avoid her mother's nagging.

Punishment (weakens behavior)
Punishment is defined as the opposite of reinforcement since it is designed to weaken or eliminate a response rather than increase it. Like reinforcement, punishment can work either by directly applying an unpleasant stimulus like a shock after a response or by removing a potentially rewarding stimulus, for instance, deducting someone’s pocket money to punish undesirable behavior.

__**Note**: It is not always easy to distinguish between punishment and negative reinforcement.__  

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