Positive Punishment
The definition of reinforcement and punishment depends upon whether an event is presented or removed after a response is made, and whether the subject's responding increases or decreases. Any event that increases responding is called reinforcement and any event that decreases responding is called punishment; any event that is presented is called positive and any event that is removed is called negative. Each square above defines one possibility: for example, if a subject's rate of responding increases after an event is presented, we say that positive reinforcement has occurred.
There are many types of reinforcement in everyday life. Primary reinforcers are effective without having been associated with other reinforcers. Secondary reinforcers are effective only when associated with primary reinforcers. Positive reinforcers strengthen responses when they are presented. Negative reinforcers strengthen the behaviors that caused them to be removed.
Positive Punishment
The definition of reinforcement and punishment depends upon whether an event is presented or removed after a response is made, and whether the subject's responding increases or decreases. Any event that increases responding is called reinforcement and any event that decreases responding is called punishment; any event that is presented is called positive and any event that is removed is called negative. Each square above defines one possibility: for example, if a subject's rate of responding increases after an event is presented, we say that positive reinforcement has occurred.
There are many types of reinforcement in everyday life. Primary reinforcers are effective without having been associated with other reinforcers. Secondary reinforcers are effective only when associated with primary reinforcers. Positive reinforcers strengthen responses when they are presented. Negative reinforcers strengthen the behaviors that caused them to be removed.