Question

When we talk about operant conditioning, we often use the terms positive and negative and reinforcement and punishment.

A) Explain what positive reinforcement is, provide an example, and make sure to explain why this is an example of positive reinforcement.

B) Explain what negative reinforcement is, provide an example, and make sure to explain why this is an example of negative reinforcement.

C) Explain what positive punishment is, provide an example, and make sure to explain why this is an example of positive punishment.

D) Explain what negative punishment is, provide an example, and make sure to explain why this is an example of negative punishment.

Answer 1

Operant conditioning is a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished followed by a punishment, in other words, Operant Conditioning is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior. Through operant conditioning, an association is made between a behavior and a consequence for that behavior.

Reinforcement

In operant conditioning any event that strengthens the behavior it follows:

A) Positive Reinforcement: favorable events or outcomes that are presented after the behavior. In situations that reflect positive reinforcement, a response or behavior is strengthened by the addition of something, such as praise or a direct reward.

E.g, You train your dog to fetch by offering him praise and a pat on the head whenever he performs the behavior correctly. ( Patting on the head and praising him act as positive reinforcement).

B) Negative reinforcement: involve the removal of unfavorable events or outcomes after the display of a behavior. In these situations, a response is strengthened by the removal of something considered unpleasant.

E.g, A professor tells students that if they have perfect attendance throughout the semester, then they do not have to take the final comprehensive exam. By removing an unpleasant stimulus (the final test) students are negatively reinforced to attend class regularly.

Punishment

An adverse event or outcome that causes a decrease in the behavior it follows.

C) Positive Punishment: sometimes referred to as punishment by application, involves the presentation of an unfavorable event or outcome in order to weaken the response it follows.

E.g, Assigning students who forget to turn in their assignment extra work. (This works as positive punishment, in which we add an adverse stimulus, to make sure that the behavior does not get repeated).

D) Negative Punishment: also known as punishment by removal, occurs when a favorable event or outcome is removed after a behavior occurs.

E.g, A teen boy does not come home on time and doesn't behave well either, so his parents take away his phone for the rest of the week. This is an example of a negative punishment in which a positive stimulus is taken away.

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