Reinforcement and Punishment

Reinforcement tells you what to do, punishment tells you what not to do

  • Reinforcement: any consequence that strengthens a behaviour
  • Positive Reinforcement: strengthens a response by presenting positive stimulus
  • Negative Reinforcement: strengthens a response by removing/reducing an aversive stimulus
  • Punishment: any consequence that decreases the frequency of a preceding behaviour
  • Positive Punishment: aversive stimuli given e.g parking ticket
  • Negative Punishment: withdrawal of a desirable stimulus e.g Xbox taken away
  • Primary Reinforcement: has an evolutionary basis e.g food, sleep, air
  • Secondary Reinforcement: involves stimulus that have become rewarding by being paired with another reinforcing stimulus e.g money = food

NOTE:

  • Positive = something is given
  • Negative = something is taken away