This document discusses different types of reinforcement and punishment used in operant conditioning. Positive reinforcement increases desired behaviors by adding a rewarding stimulus. Negative reinforcement also aims to increase behaviors, but does so by removing an unpleasant stimulus. Positive punishment decreases behaviors by adding an unpleasant consequence, while negative punishment decreases behaviors by removing something desirable.

1. Reinforcers and Punishment
By: Loren Bookout

2. ● Positive reinforcement is used to
increase desired behavior.
● It is a stimulus that is added to the
environment to increase a good
response.
● It is a concept of operant conditioning.
● You can think of it as adding
something.
● An example of positive reinforment is
rewarding a child with candy or ice
cream after doing what was told.
Positive Reinforcer

3. ●
Negative reinforcement is the removal
of a stimulus when a certain bahavior
occurs.
● It is part of operant conditioning as
well.
● Negative reinforcement works well in
the work place. It motivates employees
more.
● You can think of it as taking something
away.
● An example of this is when a parent
nags on their child when they do not do
what they are told. It causes the child
to do the job so they do not have to
listen to the nagging.
● Negative reinforcement is not
punishment.
Negative Reinforcer

4. ● Positive punishment is trying to weaken
a response by application of an
unpleasant stimulus.
● It is trying to decrease a behavior by an
unfavorable outcome.
● An example of positive punishment is
when you are going over the speed
limit and receive a ticket by a cop.
Positive Punishment

5. ● Negative punishment is a form of
behavior modification.
● It is when the removal of something
decreases the behavior in the future.
● An example of this is when a child is
grounded from something he or she
loves.
● Negative punishment is used
everywhere, like in a classroom.
Negative Punishment