by Anonymous on April 9th, 2008

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What is positive and negative reinforcement according to psychology?

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by Sixty B - Commander Topcoat on May 18th, 2008
Positive - You do good - I give you a treat
Negative - You do bad - I bitch slap the dumb out of ya
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- Too funny LOL :)
  
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  by DreAnna on May 18th, 2008
- Not it, but funny answer. I refuse to post the correct answer because it just looks like a homework question.
  
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  by a 10sEn is the AB Ninja Lounge bartender on May 18th, 2008
- hahahah *bows*
  
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  by Sixty B - Commander Topcoat on May 18th, 2008
- very funny--wish my chair would have used that!
  
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  by ahjuliet on May 24th, 2008
- Ah, C'mon, SixtyB! I've tried! You really can't "slap the dumb" outta anyone! ;-)
  
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  by philosopher-saint on May 27th, 2008
- hahahahahahaaaaa
  
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  by Sixty B - Commander Topcoat on May 27th, 2008
- lol the negative thing was actually primary punishment.
  
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  by Sodapop on June 12th, 2008
- slap me again you judgmental man, for i have insight to what i believe is right regardless of evil laws
  
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  by technios on June 12th, 2008
- confused
  
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  by Sodapop on June 13th, 2008
- Me too.
  Hey Sodapop: please 'splain the difference between negative reinforcement and "primary punishment"?
  ;-)
  
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  by philosopher-saint on December 1st, 2008
- think of it in terms of math. pos. reinforcement adds something good to someone or something. like a hug. neg. reinforcement takes away something bad so that it will be good. cutting off grounding. primary punishment is yelling or hitting. positive punishment is the same.
  
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  by Sodapop on December 2nd, 2008
- but primary punishment and secondary punishment differ in terms of the actions evoking a response. primary reinforcement is a hug. secondary reinforcement is money because of the association it has with getting candy and the like, but alone it wouldn't be anything.
  
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  by Sodapop on December 2nd, 2008
- Seems a very fine (if not indefinable) difference, no? Lemme ask this: Is "punishment" included in the catagory of "negative reinforcement"? By whom? When?
  
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  by philosopher-saint on December 3rd, 2008
- nope. that would be taking away a bad thing for a good feeling. it would be more like a reward for good behavior. punishment is more like hitting (positive) and grounding (negative). of course the words in parenthesis are not a reflection of my opinion of the two.
  
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  by Sodapop on December 3rd, 2008
- Yeah - you can see here how incredibly important, nay, *crucial* to define one's terminology. My take on "positive" = something the subject (patient, whatever) would *favour* and would respond to with positive behaviour, while "negative" would be something any subject would dislike and learn to avoid via this "classical" or "operant" conditioning, in Skinnerian thought.
  
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  by philosopher-saint on December 3rd, 2008
- i like to think of it like math. negative takes away something, positive adds something.
  
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  by Sodapop on December 6th, 2008
- But of course, it's not a 'zero sum' kinda thing!
  ;-)
  
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  by philosopher-saint on December 6th, 2008
- nope
  
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  by Sodapop on December 7th, 2008
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by dr james on April 9th, 2008
i hit you with a stick and tell you to give me all your money...negative reinforcement

you give me your money...positive reinforcement
Comments
- Negative Reinforcement would be if you continued hitting me with a stick until I gave you the money, at which time you stopped. Thus the aversive stimulus of being hit with a stick is removed, and the behaviour of giving you money is negatively reinforced.
  
  Me giving you money would act as a positive reinforcer for YOU, and your behaviour of hitting people with sticks.
  
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  by John. on May 18th, 2008
- Yeah - the dude would be swingin' a stick everytime a bill came due! ;-)
  
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  by philosopher-saint on May 27th, 2008
- you must be a cop!
  
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  by technios on June 12th, 2008
- and very selfish too
  
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  by technios on June 12th, 2008
- just my opinion
  
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  by technios on June 12th, 2008
- i forgive you
  
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  by technios on June 12th, 2008
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by Sodapop on June 12th, 2008
Positive Reinforcement would be the giving of love, attention or treats for doing something good, according to the person. "If you do good, we'll go get some ice-creame."

Negative Reinforcement would be taking away something bad as a result of a good behavior, "if you get an A on your final, me and your mom will cut off your 5 month grounding."

There is also primary reinforcers and secondary reinforcers. Ask in a comment if you wanna know what those are.

Im a psychology student studying to be a psychiatrist when i get older. I took psychology this year (my junior year) and i am taking A.P. Psychology next year (senior year of hs).
Comments
- how was one grounded for 5 months without negative reenforcement meaning something else, punishing out of hate? you described two positive reenforcement situations if you ask me!
  
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  by technios on June 12th, 2008
- lol thats punishment your thinking of.
  
  the primary reinforcer is the love and attention you get for good deeds. the secondary reinforcer is the cookies, and crap you get for good stuff.
  
  primary punishment is getting a fist in the mouth or a slap, something violent and hands on like that or getting yelled at; Abuse. "(fist to mouth)".
  
  secondary punishment is taking something good away in response to a bad reaction. "your grounded from tv for 5 months for bringing home a D".
  
  of course my groundings aren't that severe the worst i had is a week and its been so long, about a year lol.
  
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  by Sodapop on June 12th, 2008
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by philosopher-saint on May 27th, 2008
In B.F. Skinner's "classical conditioning", (+) reinforcement is delivered upon desired behaviour while (-) reinforcement is delivered upon undesired behaviour. In "operant conditioning", *after* the subject performs the desired behaviour (without prompt), (+) reinforcement is administered. This last, of course, is the most effective.
-
P.S. Good luck with your test! ;-)
Comments
- So it's basically a sneaky way to oppress and condition one's general idea of morality unto another, isn't it? XD
  
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  by Symbeline on May 27th, 2008
- Sorry, you're actually incorrect. You're confusing negative-reinforcement with punishment.
  
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  by John. on May 27th, 2008
- Sym: Not at all! It's all "for science" and/or "mental health"! ;-)
  -
  loharv: OK. I stand corrected by your obvious authority here! What are your credentials again? I suppose I wasted a whole lot of my time & $ with the M.S. and three decades of forensic crisis psych experience! Thanks! ;-)
  
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  by philosopher-saint on May 27th, 2008
- Are you actually saying that negative reinforcement is used on an undesired behaviour?
  
  Reinforcement is always used to increase the instances of a desired behaviour, regardless of being negative or positive?
  
  Im sorry, but despite your clear experience in the field, you are wrong.
  
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  by John. on May 27th, 2008
- Geez! I guess there's neither the capacity nor the need for any more learning for you! Congratulations!
  
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  by philosopher-saint on May 27th, 2008
- Well what does this reinforcement consist of, generally?
  
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  by Symbeline on May 27th, 2008
- Sym: The classic example is M&Ms given to a child for say, using the toilet properly. The forms are only limited by imagination, really.
  -
  loharv: You know, a great example of both (+) and (-) behavioural reinforcement is right here in front of both of us = the AB "points" system! ;-)
  
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  by philosopher-saint on May 27th, 2008
- philosopher-saint, rather than throwing out witty one-liners, why don't you answer the question.
  
  As far as I can tell, you're wrong. You claim to be highly qualified in the field, so please explain why you think I am wrong.
  
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  by John. on May 27th, 2008
- Please see above comment. ;-)
  
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  by philosopher-saint on May 27th, 2008
- Removing points is a punishment, is it not?
  
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  by John. on May 27th, 2008
- Oh, I see. We have a bit of a terminology difficulty here maybe. Yes, in it's extreme, one could call negative reinforcement as a "punishment". With this example, if someone writes something that's favoured, they are rewarded with (+) points = "positive reinforcement"; conversely, (-) points are given by those (authoritative, tight-assed, sanctimonious) nebbishes in the hope that one refrains from responding in such a way again (negative reinforcement). I don't know if I'd use the term "punishment", tho". I recommend B.F.Skinner's work "Beyond Freedom and Dignity" for your edification.
  -
  Also, you're right. I can be a bit of a smartass at times. Sorry.
  
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  by philosopher-saint on May 27th, 2008
- Last words (One comment, two parts)
  When speaking about a discipline specific subject it is important to maintain the universal terminology specific to that discipline. While our misunderstanding could be passed off as a mere issue of terminology, I think it is important for the sake of anyone reading this that we maintain the standard, textbook definitions of what we're speaking about.
  While in the everyday sense, the terms punishment and negative-reinforcement could be seen to be interchangeable, within the discipline of Psychology they are not. They have different meaning, and represent different modes of learning.
  
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  by John. on May 28th, 2008
- As set out by the Behaviourists, a reinforcement is used to increase a particular behaviour, and a punishment is used to decrease a behaviour. Reinforcements of the negative kind are not used to decrease a behaviour, despite the obvious everyday connotations of the word "negative."
  
  Perhaps the textbook definitions have changed since you studied 30 years ago? Either way, nice discussion.
  
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  by John. on May 28th, 2008
- What books on this topic have *you, personally*, actually *read*, dude?
  
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  by philosopher-saint on May 28th, 2008
- I mean, I'd like to "keep up" with your latest readings! ;-)
  
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  by philosopher-saint on May 28th, 2008
- You guys completely lost me either way. I don't get it. XD
  
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  by Symbeline on May 28th, 2008
- In every textbook I've read, punishment and negative-reinforcement are clearly explained as being seperate concepts.
  
  If you want to go back to basics and revise this stuff, I suggest Westen's Psychology text. It's a well rounded introduction to the discipline.
  
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  by John. on May 29th, 2008
- I agree with philosopher-saint! When training my dog, I will reward her with praise and a treat! Therefore positively reinforcing to her that she did good. If she does something I don't wish her to do, I will negatively reinforce to her (verbally) that it is wrong. And will continue to do this until she does the right thing. Then it's back to the positive reinforcement, to show her she did good. I have never punished her for her behaviour I consider to be wrong. Merely used a method to show my extreme displeasure.
  
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  by Gone. on June 12th, 2008
- As I said previously, in Psychology these phrases have specific meanings.
  
  Negative-reinforcement, as decribed by B.F. Skinner is never used to make a behaviour happen less.
  
  It is used to reinforce a behaviour, by removing a negative stimulus.
  
  If you tell your dog off for performing a behaviour you dont like, you are punishing the dog for performing that behaviour.
  
  I dont know why people are disagreeing with me, for the love of B.F. Skinner, crack open a Psychology text or a Psychology dictionary.
  
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  by John. on June 12th, 2008
- This evening whilst at work, I have been thinking about this discussion. The more I thought about yours and philosopher's argument, I realised that indeed it is YOU who is correct. The more I thought about the negative reinforcement I use on my dog, the more I realised it is a punishment. No matter what method is used. I should have thought it more before I posted my previous message. thanks for the insight and teaching me something new loharv ☺
  
  Here is a qoute from the psychological deffinition:-
  
  "In psychology, punishment has a precise definition based on the modification of a human or animal's behavior. Something is considered punishment or punishing if the likelihood of the behavior immediately preceding the punishment is decreased"
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punishment_%28psychology%29
  
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  by Gone. on June 13th, 2008
- Thanks Dirty-Ninja,
  
  I think a lot of people just missed the second bit of the question "..according to Psychology"
  
  :)
  
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  by John. on June 16th, 2008
- Yeah - that's it. That and they missed your qualifications too? ;-)
  
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  by philosopher-saint on July 2nd, 2008
- OMG you came back! :D
  
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  by Symbeline on July 2nd, 2008
- I thought this was done and dusted?
  
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  by Gone. on July 2nd, 2008
- Qualifications mean nothing on the internet. And your's apparently mean nothing if you can't master first year concepts.
  
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  by John. on July 3rd, 2008
- I don't have any qualifications on this subject, but with a little thought after my jumping the gun, it all became quite logical, thanks to you Loharv :)
  
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  by Gone. on July 3rd, 2008
- (heh-heh) "The blind leading the blind"?!
  ;-)
  
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  by philosopher-saint on December 1st, 2008
- Glad to see you still haven't cracked a textbook, or at least Wikipedia.
  
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  by John. on December 2nd, 2008
- You wrote: "Qualifications mean nothing on the internet."
  Abso-Gawddamned-lutely correct!
  It's okay. When I was a snot-nosed uneducated teenager, I "knew" everything too! Enjoy!
  ;-)
  
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  by philosopher-saint on December 3rd, 2008
- Lol! XD
  
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  by Symbeline on December 3rd, 2008
- Can you imagine *anyone* taking Wikipedia as a valid source of information?! I *love* this milk-lipped kid!
  ;-)
  
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  by philosopher-saint on December 3rd, 2008
- I usually look up Wikipedia...in order to know what NOT to say. XD
  
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  by Symbeline on December 3rd, 2008
- It's written by *us*!! Can you really rely on *that*?! I mean, for all I know on Wikipedia, some uneducated, egomaniacal teenager wrote the theory behind Kant's Catagorical Imperative!
  -
  But seriously, Sym, I *love* the unfounded arrogance of youth!
  ;-)
  
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  by philosopher-saint on December 3rd, 2008
- But you do realise you're wrong, right?
  
  Like besides all the crap talking, you do understand that your answer is incorrect?
  
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  by John. on December 4th, 2008
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by John. on May 18th, 2008
Positive and Negative reinforcement are used to increase the instances of a behaviour. In terms of reinforcement, the positive and negative refer to the addition or subtraction of a stimulus.

Positive reinforcement, is the addition of a stimulus in response to a behaviour (Good boy, you cleaned your room so you get an icecream).

Negative reiforcement is the subtraction of an aversive stimulus (A drug addict may feel withdrawl symptoms, which are horrible. He takes drugs, which remove the aversive stimulus, thus negatively reinforcing drug-taking behaviour).
Comments
- Very good answer!
  
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  by Cognition aka Cog on May 18th, 2008
- (Altho' incorrect)
  
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  by philosopher-saint on May 27th, 2008
- Explain?
  
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  by John. on May 27th, 2008
- Please see my answer to this question. And thx for asking.
  
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  by philosopher-saint on May 27th, 2008
- very true
  
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  by ScholarAtHeart on December 1st, 2008
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by caz_lake on June 12th, 2008
positive reinforcement is the introduction of a positive stimulus to an organism after producing a certain behaviour.

negative reinforcement is the withdrawal of a negative stimulus after producing a certain behaviour.
eg: Take panadol (behaviour) = headache gone (reinforcement). So you are likely to take the panadol again in the futurew as it had a favourable outcome.

Reinforcement in psychology alwasy increases the liklihood of the behaviour occurring again.
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What is positive and negative reinforcement according to psychology?

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