What Is Positive Reinforcement? Examples That Will Help You Modify Behavior
What is positive and negative reinforcement? How to use positive reinforcement well? Discover how to modify behavior through the theory of behaviorism and reinforcers.
Our actions have consequences. Furthermore, when we receive a positive encouragement After a behavior, this influences us to be more willing to perform the same action again. Within behavioral psychology there is the concept of positive reinforcement, a process that can be used to condition people’s actions so that they are more likely to perform it again. This can help us achieve new habits and change an aspect of ourselves that we may not like. What does positive reinforcement entail?
Within the theory of operant conditioning, positive reinforcement Its objective is to increase those behaviors that are most desired by trying to add a favorable stimulus right after performing said action. That is, behavioral reinforcers are precisely rewards that encourage the person to do it again.
In positive reinforcement, the stimulus that reinforces the action is a positive reinforcer, that is, something that the person usually enjoys and that, therefore, can motivate them to repeat the behavior that has been reinforced. In this way, the positive reinforcement An individual’s tendency to adopt a new practice often increases over time.
Positive and negative reinforcement
When a behavior is followed by certain consequences that we perceive as positive, it is very likely that we will perform said behavior again. On the other hand, when a behavior has a negative reinforcement that is, its consequences are negative and unpleasant, we are less likely to repeat it.
This feedback process, discovered by the psychologist and pedagogue Edward Thorndike, is called within psychology as the ‘Law of effect ‘. In fact, this is a very important component of how we learn many of the behaviors we perform in our lives.
A few years later in 1938, it was Burrhus Frederic Skinner who systematized this concept and introduced the concept of behaviorism, better known as behavior modification. According to his theories, our behavior is conditioned by the following.
Reinforcers: A reinforcer can increase the frequency at which a behavior occurs when something rewarding and pleasurable occurs (i.e., a positive reinforcement ) or on the contrary it can reduce it if as a consequence something unpleasant and harmful occurs (that is, a negative reinforcement ).
Punishments: Punishment reduces the frequency in which a behavior occurs since it provides the person who performs it with an unpleasant and harmful effect (called positive punishment ) or on the contrary, it can also take away something that is rewarding and pleasurable (negative punishment ).
Extinction: Extinction decreases a specific behavior when neither favorable nor unfavorable consequences are provided. Thus, when a behavior is ignored and not reinforced, it is very likely to disappear.
Skinner observed that receiving one type of consequences or another greatly influenced people’s well-being. When a person receives punishment (whether negative or positive) he tends to experience frustration, something that causes him to suppress the unwanted behavior for a period of time. That is, those who receive punishment tend to become more defiant and end up doing the behavior again (when they know they won’t be caught doing it). On the other hand, if the unwanted behavior is ignored and extinguished while an undesired action is promoted and reinforced (called differential reinforcement), it has more consequences and positive results.
There are many examples of positive reinforcement that can be used in our daily lives. Among the most understandable, we can mention the following.
Praise: After performing a good deed or desirable behavior, a good positive reinforcement It would be to direct a compliment to the person who is doing it.
Monetary rewards: One of the positive reinforcements What we can find most in the business world are rewards through money when good work is done that benefits a business.
Recognition: When a person is applauded or receives an extra grade point for a specific behavior, this can be used as a positive reinforcement
As we can see, in each of the situations that we have described these types of reinforcements They are an additional stimulus to what happens after the behavior and makes people increase the probability that this behavior will occur again in the future.
Is positive reinforcement always a good thing?
It is completely normal to think that the positive reinforcement It’s something we should use a lot. The reality is that although in some cases it is very effective, there are situations in which these reinforcers can also strengthen a person’s undesirable behaviors. An example of positive reinforcement in children that can go wrong would be in a situation where in a store, they get along badly and the parents buy them a toy to make them behave better.
When this happens, the positive reinforcements They serve so that children learn that by acting badly they can attract the attention of their parents and acquire those objects they want. Therefore, parents are reinforcing this bad behavior.
There are many different types of reinforcers that can be used to increase a person’s desirable behaviors. For each individual, it is important to take into account that the reinforcers adapt to their situation and personality. In this way, we can distinguish these positive reinforcements.
Natural reinforcers: They are those that occur directly as a result of our behavior. That is, an example of this positive reinforcement It is when we receive good grades for studying hard.
Social reinforcers: This positive reinforcement involves expressing approval of a specific behavior. Typically, this is usually done by authority figures (such as parents or teachers).
Tangible reinforcers: These positive reinforcements They involve giving physical rewards that are pleasant to the individual in question. These types of reinforcers should be used in moderation as they can have adverse effects on behavior.
Although on many occasions the concept of positive reinforcement It is associated with the education of children, the reality is that it is also very effective in increasing a habit in adults. In this way, through positive self-reinforcement we can change a behavior that we do not like in ourselves or in our children. In these cases, whether you want to improve a behavior or change for the better, it is always advisable to go to a professional psychologist to receive more help in this regard. Change is difficult, but with effort it is possible.
