192 CHAPTER 5
Let’s consider a few examples of each of these types of reinforcement. Getting
money for working is an example of positive reinforcement because the person gets
money (an added, pleasurable consequence) for the behavior of working. That one
everyone understands. But what about avoiding a penalty by turning one’s income
tax return in on time? That is an example of negative reinforcement because the behavior
(submitting the return before the deadline) results in avoiding an unpleasant stimulus
(a penalty). The likelihood that the person will behave that way again (turn it in on
time in the future) is therefore increased—just as positive reinforcement will increase a
behavior’s likelihood. It is very important to remember that BOTH positive AND neg-
ative reinforcement increase the likelihood of the behavior they follow—they both have
the effect of strengthening, or reinforcing, the behavior. Examples are the best way to
figure out the difference between these two types of reinforcement, so try to figure out
which of the following examples would be positive reinforcement and which would
be negative reinforcement:
- Pedro’s father nags him to wash his car. Pedro hates being nagged, so he washes
the car so his father will stop nagging.
- Napoleon learns that talking in a funny voice gets him lots of attention from his
classmates, so now he talks that way more often.
- Allen is a server at a restaurant and always tries to smile and be pleasant because
that seems to lead to bigger tips.
- An Li turns her report in to her teacher on the day it is due because papers get
marked down a letter grade for every day they are late.
Here are the answers:
- Pedro is being negatively reinforced for washing his car because the nagging
(unpleasant stimulus) stops when he does so.
- Napoleon is getting positive reinforcement in the form of his classmates’
attention.
- Allen’s smiling and pleasantness are positively reinforced by the customers’ tips.
- An Li is avoiding an unpleasant stimulus (the marked-down grade) by turning in
her paper on time, which is an example of negative reinforcement.
THINKING CRITICALLY
What type of reinforcement worked best for you when you were in grade school? Positive or
negative? Did this change in high school?
The response entered here will be saved to your notes and may be
collected by your instructor if he/she requires it.
Submit
SCHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENT: WHY THE ONE-ARMED
BANDIT IS SO SEDUCTIVE
- 6 Identify the four schedules of reinforcement.
The timing of reinforcement can make a tremendous difference in the speed at
which learning occurs and the strength of the learned response. However, Skinner
(1956) found that reinforcing every response was not necessarily the best sched-
ule of reinforcement for long-lasting learning, as we’ll see in the video Schedules of
Reinforcement.
