Discussion
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Reinforcement
Behavioral issues can begin at an individual’s tender age, and if not dealt with properly, they can carry on through the person’s later stages (Forshee, 2018). Reinforcement refers to the tools used to increase the chances of a specific behavior. Such behavior often occurs in response to a particular stimulus. Reinforcement procedures have been typically applied to animals, children, and teenagers, to test their probability of response to a specific stimulus. Such methods can either be positive or negative, with each course of action having different test subjects’ outcomes. Both procedures strengthen the repetitiveness of a response, but by various means.
Positive Reinforcement
This kind of reinforcement stands out as a dominant element for increasing the likelihood of a given behavior happening again. It functions by providing a reward or an incentive to an individual upon achieving an appropriate response. For instance, to encourage a child to perform well in his studies, a parent may decide to buy a toy. The toy as an incentive may help the child to attain higher grades since the child views it as a reason to excel academically. Both positive and negative reinforcement can modify behavior.
Negative Reinforcement
On the other hand, negative reinforcement refers to the removal of a particular factor upon the exhibiting of specific behavior. The probability of the individual to behave in that particular way is increased due to removing the negative association (Forshee, 2018). However, this procedure should not be seen as a punishment, as it increases the likelihood of a given behavior. A typical example of such reinforcement is an individual’s need to remove lousy body smell by taking a shower. One is likely to remove the scent again by taking a shower. The bad odor, in this case, is the aversive stimulus.
Reference
Forshee, D. D. (2018, May 14). The Difference Between Positive and Negative Reinforcement. https://drdanielleforshee.com/the-difference-between-positive-and-negative-reinforcement/.