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. __________ Leon goes to the health club for a rare workout and pushes himself so hard that his entire body aches and he throws up.

Short answer

Answer: Punishment (P)

Step-by-step solution

Identify the operant behavior

The behavior in question is Leon going to the health club for a workout.

Analyze the consequence of the behavior

After exercising, Leon experiences aches and vomiting, which are unpleasant consequences.

Determine the type of consequence

Since these consequences are unpleasant and are likely to decrease the likelihood of Leon engaging in this behavior again, this is an example of punishment (P). Answer: Punishment (P)

Key concepts

Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement involves the addition of a stimulus after a behavior that increases the likelihood of that behavior occurring again. It's like giving a high-five or a pat on the back for a job well done. For example, if a student gets a sticker each time they complete their homework, the sticker is the positive reinforcer. The result is often more of the desired behavior because the reinforcement makes the student feel good and motivated.

It's essential to make sure that the reinforcer is something the individual finds rewarding. Otherwise, it won't be effective. Remember, positive reinforcement is about adding something positive to encourage a behavior, which should be contrasted with the other operant conditioning outcomes where something might be taken away or added as a form of discouragement.

Negative Reinforcement

Negative reinforcement, despite the name, is also about increasing a behavior, but it does this by removing an unpleasant stimulus. Think of it as the relief you feel when you take pain medication to alleviate a headache; the removal of the pain reinforces the action of taking the medication.

An example where negative reinforcement is at play could be when a student is allowed to skip a challenging quiz if they complete all their homework for the month. The possibility to avoid something unpleasant (the quiz) increases the likelihood that the student will do their homework regularly. It's a common misconception that negative reinforcement is negative in the sense of being harmful or punitive, but in reality, it's about the removal of a negative condition.

Punishment

Punishment, in operant conditioning, refers to adding an unpleasant consequence or removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior. In our textbook exercise, Leon going to the health club and then experiencing aches and vomiting is a punishment because these unpleasant outcomes follow his behavior, making it less likely for him to exercise excessively in the future.

There are two types of punishment: positive punishment, which involves adding an unpleasant stimulus (like extra chores for missing curfew), and negative punishment, which entails removing something pleasant (like taking away video game privileges). When using punishment, it is crucial to be careful and consistent; otherwise, it can lead to fear, anxiety, or even encourage the unwanted behavior.

Extinction

Extinction in operant conditioning occurs when a behavior that was previously reinforced is no longer reinforced, leading to a decrease in that behavior over time. Imagine a vending machine that suddenly stops dispensing candy bars when you insert coins. Eventually, you would stop putting money into it because the reinforcing outcome – the candy bar – is no longer present.

Extinction is critical for eliminating behaviors that are no longer desired or appropriate. However, this process can lead to an 'extinction burst', a temporary increase in the behavior's frequency, intensity, or both. This burst happens because the individual may try harder to gain the lost reinforcement before the behavior finally declines.