What is Reinforcement

What we casually perceive as rewards are actually the reinforcer. Rewards only impose pleasure on the recipient, however receiving a reward knowing that is a result of directly observable behaviour (action), is the result of reinforcing an action.

Understanding that the favourable reward will be attained when performing the action, increases the likelihood of the recipient performing the action again (Gordan & Amutan, 2014). In essence, a reinforcer is any stimulus that follows and fortifies a response. However, using reinforcements too frequently could contradict the efforts, hence the effectiveness of intermittent/partial reinforcement (Zimbardo, 2014).

Reiterating the two types of reinforcements, positive and negative, most people would unconsciously understand how positive reinforcement behaves and lesser people would notice the existence of negative reinforcement. Do not mistake negative reinforcement as punishment as they are different.

References:

Gordan, M., & Amutan, K. I. (2014). A Review of BF Skinner’s ‘Reinforcement Theory of Motivation. International Journal of Research in Education Methodology, 5(3), 680-688.

Zimbardo, P. G., Johnson, R. L., & McCann, V. H. (2014) Psychology: Core concepts (Seventh edition). Pearson.

Positive vs Negative Reinforcement in ONE Minute. Positive Reinforcement. Negative Reinforcement. Schedules of Reinforcement. Schedules of Reinforcement By Annabelle G.Y.

Lim , published July 02, 2020 Key Takeaways: Reinforcement Schedules A reinforcement schedule is a rule stating which instances of behavior, if any, will be reinforced.Reinforcement schedules can be divided into two broad categories: continuous schedules and partial schedules (also called intermittent schedules).In a continuous schedule every instance of a desired behavior is reinforced, whereas partial schedules only reinforce the desired behavior occasionally.Partial reinforcement schedules are described as either fixed or variable, and as either interval or ratio.Combinations of these four descriptors yield four kinds of partial reinforcement schedules: fixed-ratio, fixed-interval, variable-ratio and variable-interval.

In 1957, a revolutionary book for the field of behavioral science was published: Schedules of Reinforcement by C.B. Reinforcement Schedules. Ratio. Interval.