Scribd
Upload
81 views3 pages

Positive and Negative Reinforcement

The document discusses different perspectives on distinguishing between positive and negative reinforcement. It explains that positive reinforcement involves presenting a stimulus to encourage a behavior, while negative reinforcement involves removing a stimulus to discourage a behavior. It also notes that understanding contingencies and how behaviors change before and after reinforcement can help distinguish the two. Finally, it discusses how positive reinforcement can be a motivating operation that inspires behaviors, while negative reinforcement acts as an abolishing operation that discourages unwanted behaviors by allowing individuals to avoid punishment.

Uploaded by

Tutors Section
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
81 views3 pages

Positive and Negative Reinforcement

The document discusses different perspectives on distinguishing between positive and negative reinforcement. It explains that positive reinforcement involves presenting a stimulus to encourage a behavior, while negative reinforcement involves removing a stimulus to discourage a behavior. It also notes that understanding contingencies and how behaviors change before and after reinforcement can help distinguish the two. Finally, it discusses how positive reinforcement can be a motivating operation that inspires behaviors, while negative reinforcement acts as an abolishing operation that discourages unwanted behaviors by allowing individuals to avoid punishment.

Uploaded by

Tutors Section
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Running Head: POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT 1

Assignment 1: Distinction between Positive and Negative Reinforcement

Student’s Name:

Institution:
POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT 2

Distinguishing the positive and negative reinforcement in applied behavioral analysis

might be challenging. Many authors have used the terminologies, but presented diverse argument

to differentiate. An author, Brian Iwata, provides three different perspectives to distinguish the

negative and positive reinforcement. First, an individual has to establish whether relevant stimuli

are present, or absent (Iwata, 2006). In this case, positive reinforcement will entail the

presentation of stimuli such as food, to encourage a trait. In contrast, the negative reinforcement

will entail the removal of stimuli, to discourage a behavior. Secondly, Iwata highlights that the

establishment of effective contingencies will rely on understanding the possible changes before,

and after reinforcement. Therefore, if a certain action enhance desired changes, then, other

operations might not be necessary.

Thirdly, individuals might distinguish the positive and negative reinforcement

terminologies by evaluating them in their functional perspectives (Iwata, 2006). Iwata highlights

that it is essential to introduce an establishing operation, which subjects an individual to a

condition that alters behaviors. In this case, the behaviorist establishes a reinforcer that

streamlines the subject individual towards a desired trait. For instance, a positive reinforcement

could be a motivating operation, which inspires a specific trait. An example is when food is

given to a dog for adhering to a specific instruction. In contrast, a negative reinforcement is an

abolishing operation that discourages a certain behavior. For instance, one may endure a certain

punishment for displaying undesired behaviors. For this reason, the individual will abolish

certain traits as they try to avoid the associated punishment.


POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT 3

Reference

Iwata, B. (2006). On the distinction between positive and negative reinforcement. The Behavior

Analyst, 29(1), 121-123. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf03392123

You might also like