Reinforcement• Reinforcement strengthens/

increases likelihood of a particular response.

• Positive reinforcer is a stimulus - strengthens the frequency/ likelihood of desired response by providing pleasant/ satisfying consequence.

• E.g.. Money (for turning up to work)

• Thus Positive Reinforcement involves the delivery of a positive reinforcer after the operant response in order to strengthen the behaviour.

Negative Reinforcement• Negative reinforcement – is a

process which involves the removal (or avoidance) of an aversive stimulus which consequently strengthens the behaviour (the operant response)

• E.g. putting up an umbrella to avoid getting wet hair, if it works, then the use of the umbrella has been reinforced by taking away the aversive stimulus (wet/messy hair)

Punishment• Involves delivery of an

unpleasant stimulus done in order to weaken the response or decrease the probability of the undesirable behaviour occurring again over time

Positive Punishment: • An unpleasant stimulus is

presented in response to a behaviour in order to weaken the behaviour.

E.g. a fine for speeding in a school (40km/h) zone during school times

Response Cost (Negative Punishment)• Response cost (negative

punishment): A valued stimulus is removed in order to decrease the targeted targeted behaviour

E.g. Year 12’s locked out of their centre due to lunch time mess, in order to reduce littering