Negative reinforcement
Negative reinforcement is a term in behavioral psychology that refers to the removal of a stimulus following a given behavior in order to increase the frequency of that behavior. The term is often confused with punishment, but they are not the same. Negative reinforcement is used to increase the likelihood of a behavior, while punishment is used to decrease the likelihood of a behavior.
Pronunciation
Negative reinforcement is pronounced as /ˈnɛɡətɪv ˌriːɪnˈfɔːsmənt/.
Etymology
The term "negative reinforcement" was first used in the field of psychology in the 1930s. It is derived from the Latin word "negativus", meaning "denying", and the English word "reinforcement", which refers to the act of strengthening or encouraging a pattern of behavior.
Related Terms
- Positive reinforcement: This is the addition of a rewarding stimulus to increase a behavior.
- Punishment: This is the application of an aversive stimulus to decrease a behavior.
- Operant conditioning: This is a type of learning where behavior is controlled by consequences.
- Behavior modification: This is a treatment approach that replaces undesirable behaviors with more desirable ones by using the principles of operant conditioning.
See Also
References
- Skinner, B. F. (1938). The Behavior of Organisms: An Experimental Analysis. New York: Appleton-Century.
- Miltenberger, R. G. (2008). Behavior Modification: Principles and Procedures (5th ed.). Wadsworth Publishing.
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