Reinforcement

Reinforcement is a phrase which is being in use in operant conditioning and behavior analysis for the development of rising the rate or possibility of a behavior (e.g. pulling a lever more repeatedly) by the deliverance or coming out of a stimulus (e.g. a candy) instantaneously or shortly after the behavior, called a response, is performed.

The strength of the response can be assessed by measuring its frequency, latency, accuracy, duration, and/or persistence of the response when the reinforcement stops. A reinforcer is the stimulus, happening, or circumstances that is accessible or otherwise emerges as soon as the response behaviour is performed.

Reinforcement theory is considered to be one of the motivation theories; and it states that “reinforced behavior will be repeated, and behavior that is not reinforced is less likely to be repeated.” Further various theories may perhaps have a center of attention on the additional factors such as whether the human being has estimated the plan to work at some point, but in the behavioral theory, reinforcement is expressive of an augmented probability of a response.

B.F. Skinner, the investigator who expressed the major theoretical constructs of reinforcement and behaviorism, defined reinforcers “according to the change in response strength rather than to more subjective criteria, such as what is pleasurable or valuable to someone.” The two types of reinforcement are:

• Positive reinforcement: the addition of an appetitive stimulus to boost a certain behavior or reaction.
• Negative reinforcement: the taking of an aversive stimulus to boost certain behavior or reaction.

Skinner defined reinforcement as “creating situations that an individual likes or removing a situation he doesn't like, and punishment as removing a situation a person likes or setting up one he doesn't like. Distinguishing the "positive" from "negative" can be tricky, and the requirement of the difference is over and over again being debated.

For example: presenting a gift increases the positive reinforcement and the likelihood of behavior whereas taking away a gift gives the negative reinforcement and the likelihood of the behavior is decreased.

Questions:

• What is meant by primary reinforcer?
• What do you mean by natural and artificial reinforcement?