| Concept | Action | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Positive Reinforcement | Add pleasant stimulus | Increase behavior |
| Negative Reinforcement | Remove aversive stimulus | Increase behavior |
| Positive Punishment | Add aversive stimulus | Decrease behavior |
| Negative Punishment | Remove pleasant stimulus | Decrease behavior |
The 'Negative' Trap: In psychology exams, 'negative' always means 'subtraction' or 'removal,' not 'bad.' Always check if a stimulus is being taken away before labeling it negative.
Identify the Target Behavior: Before deciding the type of conditioning, identify if the behavior is becoming more frequent or less frequent. This determines if it is reinforcement or punishment.
Functional Analysis: Look for the 'why.' If someone does something to stop a headache, the behavior (taking medicine) is negatively reinforced because the pain is removed.
Misconception: Negative reinforcement is a form of punishment. Correction: Negative reinforcement is actually a 'reward' in the sense that it provides relief from something unpleasant, thus encouraging the behavior.
Misconception: Punishment is the most effective way to change behavior. Correction: Skinner argued that reinforcement is generally more effective for long-term behavior change, as punishment often only suppresses behavior temporarily or leads to avoidance of the punisher rather than the behavior itself.