Negative reinforcement is a stimulus that decreases the frequency of a behavior.
Negative reinforcement is an effective way to change behavior. And you can use it in your life too! Here is how it works: Show
Negative reinforcement is taking away something unpleasant to strengthen a desirable behavior. Over time, the frequency of the positive behavior should increase because of the expectation that the unpleasant action or consequence will be taken away. American psychologist B. F. Skinner used the term negative reinforcement in his theory of operant behavior. Operant behavior, also known as operant conditioning, is a method of learning in which the strength of a behavior is modified by reinforcement or punishment. Sound confusing? Let’s clarify what it is and isn’t. How does negative reinforcement work?According to Skinner, an aversive stimulus is an “unpleasant event intended to decrease the probability of a behavior when presented as a consequence (i.e., punishment). However, an aversive stimulus may also increase the probability of a behavior when it is removed as a consequence, and in this way, it will function as negative reinforcement.” In other words, a stimulus is something that influences behavior. It can either be pleasant, unpleasant, internal, or external. Regardless of the stimulus, for negative reinforcement to work successfully, whatever is taken away must be done immediately after the desired behavior occurs to encourage the behavior and increase it. Let’s look at some examples of negative reinforcement.
Each of these behaviors eliminates undesirable outcomes—digestive discomfort, blisters, fighting, and being late to your workout, for example—making the positive or proactive behavior more likely to occur in the future. But what happens if negative reinforcement encourages behaviors you don’t want? For example, you prepare brussels sprouts for dinner, and your child promptly spits them out. You exchange them for something they prefer, which reinforces the behavior. It tells the child that if they don’t like something, they can spit it out and have something else to eat. Or your dog starts whining. You want the whining to stop, so give the pup a treat. While your response stops the whining, your dog learns it can complain to get a treat. Instead of solving the whining problem with a treat, look for ways to reinforce desirable behavior, like giving them attention regularly, scratching their ears, or tossing them a ball. Find other tips for behavior management with your pooch here. ↑ Table of Contents ↑ Negative reinforcement vs. positive reinforcementNegative reinforcement is not the opposite of positive reinforcement. Remember, the positive and negative words don’t mean good or bad in this type of psychology.
In both cases, reinforcement increases the chances the behavior is repeated. However, the critical difference is whether something is added (positive) or taken away (negative) to achieve the desired behavior. Let’s go back to the brussels sprouts scenario. Instead of removing them from the plate, you offered the child 10 minutes of extra playtime before bed for eating 5 sprouts. This is an example of positive reinforcement because extra playtime is added to reinforce the behavior. Similarly, if you’re trying to lose weight and give yourself extra spending money every time you lose a pound, you are positively reinforcing the behavior. However, if you lose weight to avoid being chastised by a coach, that is negative reinforcement (and you probably want to get a different, more supportive coach!). Want to learn more about positive reinforcement? Read our comprehensive guide with examples here. ↑ Table of Contents ↑ Using positive and negative reinforcement togetherSometimes it makes sense to use positive and negative reinforcement together for long-term behavior modification. Imagine a parent wanting their child to brush their teeth without prompting. Every time the child brushes, the parent praises them and rewards them. This is positive reinforcement because the consequence is added (through praise and a prize) following the desired behavior (brushing teeth without prompting). However, if the child starts brushing independently and the parent stops nagging them about it, this is negative reinforcement because the parents remove the nagging. You can use both behaviors together to strengthen the desired behavior further, and research suggests this is a very effective approach. One possible explanation is that combining the two increases each reinforcer’s individual value. Enjoy this clip from Big Bang Theory on positive reinforcement.
↑ Table of Contents ↑ Reinforcement vs. PunishmentNow let’s talk about reinforcement versus punishment. Reinforcement, even when negative, always increases a behavior, whereas positive or negative punishment always decreases a behavior. If you prefer to learn through videos, check out this 2-minute overview on negative reinforcement vs. punishment.
Positive and Negative Reinforcement and Punishment
Consider these 3 examples of punishment where the intent is to decrease the behavior. A hockey player delivers an illegal hit during a game. The hitter gets a fine and a several-game suspension. The player loses money (negative punishment) to decrease the behavior (illegal checking). A teenager brings home an F on a writing assignment. The parent grounds them for a week, losing access to their friends and fun (negative punishment) to decrease the behavior (not performing well.) If the parent instead added tutoring appointments, this is positive punishment because they’ve added tutoring to decrease the likelihood of the behavior (getting a bad grade). ↑ Table of Contents ↑ Reinforcement in the WorkplaceJust as schools have ample opportunity for negative reinforcement, so does the workplace. Reinforcement can be a positive way to encourage workplace performance and motivate employees. Consider a 2021 report comparing 70,000 U.S. companies’ worker satisfaction, where Adobe was ranked the No.1 company with the happiest employees. Some of the most intriguing employee feedback included:
Can you spot some of the reinforcers on that list? Positive feedback, unlimited paid vacation and sick days, work culture, collaboration, and open communication with leadership. Here’s another way to look at it:
When looking at ways to motivate your employees, it’s essential to consider these things:
To master the art of encouraging employees to perform at their highest potential, read our 20 Awesome (& Fun) Ways to Motivate Employees. ↑ Table of Contents ↑ Reinforcement in the ClassroomTeachers often use reinforcement to teach new skills or to increase appropriate or desired behaviors. Although the ultimate goal is for students to be self-motivated and regulated, teachers use reinforcers to encourage a behavior initially. And this is done through both positive (adding something) and negative (removing something) reinforcement. Positive reinforcers fall into three categories: tangible, social, and activity.
Negative reinforcement in the classroom might look like:
The approach’s effectiveness depends on the student’s motivation, age, and maturity. If a student doesn’t care about whether they get good grades or detention, it’s unlikely to be an effective approach. For example, a teacher might give a student who doesn’t enjoy math a break from doing math problems after completing a few. Watch this short example. Or a teacher might allow students with an A average to skip the final exam. Sometimes negative reinforcement happens inadvertently. Consider this example. The teacher asks students to complete a writing assignment. One student who doesn’t feel confident about their writing starts to make jokes, distracting other students. The teacher sends the student to the principal’s office. The student doesn’t mind because the unpleasant task (writing assignment) is removed, thus increasing the likelihood of this behavior in the future. ↑ Table of Contents ↑ Negative Reinforcement in a NutshellNegative reinforcement can be effective in various situations—in your own life, at work, in relationships and parenting, and with pets. And negative reinforcement is not a bad thing. You probably already use it to modify your behaviors, like slathering your face with sunscreen to prevent skin damage, drinking water to stay hydrated, or going to be earlier to avoid feeling overtired. Negative reinforcement can be simple and effective, but it’s particularly powerful when combined with positive reinforcement. Want to change your behavior? Look to what you can add or subtract to increase or decrease the likeliness of the behavior. One word of caution: when working with children, particularly those with mental health or special needs, it’s important to realize they may not have the skills to understand or control challenging behaviors. Consider seeking guidance from an Applied Behavioral Therapist for the most effective approach. Does negative reinforcement decrease behavior?Many people confuse negative reinforcement with punishment in operant conditioning, but they are two very different mechanisms. Remember that reinforcement, even when it is negative, always increases a behavior. In contrast, punishment always decreases a behavior.
When using negative reinforcement a stimulus is to a behavior?Skinner found that when using negative reinforcement, a behavior is strengthened by stopping, removing, or avoiding a negative outcome or aversive stimulus (Skinner, 1963, Operant Behavior).
What does negative reinforcement mean?Negative reinforcement is a method that can be used to help teach specific behaviors. With negative reinforcement, something uncomfortable or otherwise unpleasant is taken away in response to a stimulus. Over time, the target behavior should increase with the expectation that the unpleasant thing will be taken away.
Does negative reinforcement increase or decrease response?Negative reinforcement strengthens a response or behavior by stopping, removing, or avoiding a negative outcome or aversive stimulus. 1 B. F. Skinner first described the term in his theory of operant conditioning.
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