Question

Check your understanding of the various types of consequences that can occur in operant conditioning by indicating whether the examples below involve positive reinforcement (PR), negative reinforcement (NR), punishment (P), or extinction (E). The answers can be found in Appendix A. __________ Diane's supervisor compliments her on her hard work.

Short answer

Answer: The given situation is an example of Positive Reinforcement (PR).

Step-by-step solution

Identify the given situation's key points

In the given situation, Diane's supervisor is complimenting her for her hard work. Complimenting someone for their efforts usually has a positive effect on their behavior and encourages them to continue with that behavior.

Recognize the consequence type

Since the supervisor's compliment has a positive effect on Diane's behavior and encourages her to continue working hard, it can be identified as a positive reinforcement.

Answer the question

In conclusion, Diane's supervisor complimenting her on her hard work is an example of Positive Reinforcement (PR).

Key concepts

Positive Reinforcement

In psychology, positive reinforcement is a powerful method used to strengthen a desired behavior by following that behavior with a favorable outcome. An easy way to remember positive reinforcement is by associating it with the addition of something pleasant as a consequence. For example, a teacher giving a student praise after they answer a question correctly in class can lead to an increase in the student's participation.

Positive reinforcement is not limited to just rewards or treats; it can also be social recognition, like in the case of Diane, whose supervisor complimented her hard work. This positive feedback is intended to increase the likelihood that Diane will continue her diligent behavior. By understanding that reinforcements are processes that increase the frequency of a behavior, students can grasp why Diane's scenario is categorized as a positive reinforcement.

Negative Reinforcement

Contrary to what the name might imply, negative reinforcement is not about punishment. Instead, it is the process of increasing a behavior by removing an aversive, or unpleasant, stimulus. Think of it as taking away something negative to encourage a positive behavior. A typical example is when someone takes an aspirin to get rid of a headache; the removal of the headache (the negative stimulus) reinforces the behavior of taking an aspirin.

It's important to understand that negative reinforcement is about strengthening a behavior because the removal of an unwanted outcome is rewarding in itself. A student who studies diligently to avoid a bad grade is being negatively reinforced. Their studying behavior increases because it prevents the negative outcome of failing.

Punishment

Punishment, within the context of operant conditioning, refers to any consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior occurring again. It's about adding an unfavorable outcome or removing a favorable one following an undesired behavior. For instance, a parent might give a child time-out (adding an unpleasant experience) or take away their video game time (removing a pleasant stimulus) after the child has exhibited bad behavior.

Understanding that punishment is aimed at reducing the frequency of negative behaviors can help students distinguish it from the concept of negative reinforcement. The key difference is that punishment weakens behavior, whereas negative reinforcement strengthens it.

Extinction

In behavioral psychology, extinction is the process by which a previously reinforced behavior is weakened by the absence of reinforcement. Essentially, it's what happens when the reinforcements stop, and the behavior gradually decreases until it is no longer exhibited.

An example of extinction could be a situation where a parent stops laughing at a child's inappropriate jokes. If the child initially told jokes because they received laughter (reinforcement), and the laughter (the reinforcement) ceases, the child is likely to tell those types of jokes less often, leading to extinction of the behavior. Recognizing that the disappearance of a behavior is due to the lack of reinforcement allows students to see why certain behaviors stop being performed over time.