AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Positive reinforcement: adding a factor to increase the likelihood of the desired behavior. Negative reinforcement: removing a factor to increase the likelihood of the desired behavior. The main point to be noted is that in both strategies, the goal is to increase the likelihood of desired behavior.

Detailed explanation-2: -At dinner time, a child pouts and refuses to eat her vegetables for dinner. Her parents quickly take the offending veggies away. Since the behavior (pouting) led to the removal of the aversive stimulus (the veggies), this is an example of negative reinforcement.

Detailed explanation-3: -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.

Detailed explanation-4: -Positive reinforcement refers to the introduction of desirable or pleasant stimuli after the performance of a behavior. This reward can be used to further encourage that behavior, or change a pre-existing one. There are four types of positive reinforcers: natural, tangible, social, and token.