REINFORCEMENT
The concept of reinforcement is one of the most important
and utilized principles in applied behavior analysis. The basic definition of
reinforcement goes as follows: When a type of behavior (R) is followed by
reinforcement (S^R) then an increased frequency of the behavior will follow.
There are three qualifications for understanding if the
effects of reinforcement will occur.
1.
The timing between the end of a given response
and the onset of the stimulus change.
2.
The relationship between the stimulus conditions
present when the response was emitted.
3.
The role of motivation.
Types of
Reinforcement
Reinforcement means that a behavior will happen more often
in the future when something is added or taken away immediately after a
behavior.
Positive reinforcement occurs when a response is
followed immediately by the presentation of a stimulus change (reinforcement)
that leads to an increase of the future occurrences of that response.
·
Something is added (or given) to the individual
after a behavior occurs and that behavior occurs more often in the future
·
Ex. A child receives candy (reinforcing
stimulus) from his parents after cleaning up his room (behavior). The child
then cleans his room more often in the future.
Negative reinforcement is a contingency in which the
occurrence of a response produces the reduction which then leads to an increase
of future occurrences of that response.
·
Something is removed (or taken away) from the
individual after a behavior occurs. Making that behavior more likely to occur
in the future.
·
Ex. An individual presses a button (behavior)
that turns off a loud alarm (aversive stimulus). That individual presses that
button each time the loud alarm goes off.
Ultimately, the main purpose of reinforcement is to increase
a target behavior. Positive reinforcement is adding something positive to
increase a behavior/response. While negative
reinforcement is the taking away of something negative in order to also
increase the behavior/response.
Reference: Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward,
W. L. (2019). Applied Behavior Analysis (3rd Edition). Hoboken, NJ: Pearson
Education.
Written by Morgan Valentine, Student Analyst