Negative reinforcement is a method of operant conditioning that encourages positive behavior by removing a negative stimulus. It is not punishment. Positive reinforcement involves adding a desired item. Punishment is not a type of negative reinforcement. Both methods can influence behavior.
Negative reinforcement is a concept that is part of operant conditioning theory, a theory developed by psychologist BF Skinner. Negative reinforcement, positive reinforcement, punishment, and extinction are the four methods by which behavior is influenced in this theory. While many people associate this type of reinforcement with punishment, this is simply not true. Instead, this type of conditioning serves to encourage a certain positive behavior by removing a negative stimulus.
This concept is best illustrated with an example; A common one is a caged rat. When the rat is placed in the cage, it may receive a small electric shock, but if the rat presses a small lever, the electric shock stops. The electric shock is the negative stimulus and when the lever is pressed repeatedly, the negative stimulus is removed. The rat quickly learns, through negative reinforcement, to pull the lever and stop the shocks. It is not a punishment; instead, it is an example of the removal of a negative stimulus leading to a desired behavior.
This can also occur if someone regularly gets stuck in traffic on their way to work, for example. Traffic is the negative stimulus. If this hypothetical person learns that leaving for work early avoids getting stuck in traffic and repeats this pattern with positive results, that is an example of negative reinforcement. This type of conditioning can be used in a variety of situations, including at home, in the classroom, or when training animals.
Conversely, positive reinforcement is a similar concept but involves adding a desired item rather than removing the negative stimulus. For example, if a child completes all the homework, she might get a sticker. The sticker is the example of positive reinforcement, because something is added rather than taken away, as in negative reinforcement.
Remember, punishment is not a type of negative reinforcement. Using the homework example again, if a child doesn’t do his homework, he could be punished by staying home for recess or missing a school trip. The child will then associate the punishment with not doing homework and, in theory, will start doing homework to avoid the punishment. Using these types of operant conditioning can help influence behavior for the better; Positive reinforcement is generally thought to be the most effective technique, but even the negative variety of reinforcement can be very effective in some situations, or with some personalities.
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