See if you can guess by answering this question.
During speech class, Joey has been working on pronouncing the word mom. Joey was able to say the word today and when he did, the teacher gave him an M&M. What kind of reinforcement did the teacher provide?
a) negative reinforcement
b) primary reinforcement
c) positive reinforcement
d) secondary reinforcement
If you picked A, you are wrong. Negative reinforcement is when an individual behaves a certain way to avoid an adverse stimulus. Choice B was wrong also because a primary reinforcer has a survival value and is not learned. Choice D is also wrong because a secondary reinforcer has a neutral stimulus and has no intrinsic value.
The Answer:
If you chose C, you are correct. Positive reinforcement is defined as the presentation of a reward or pleasant stimulus after a particular response, to increase the likelihood that the response will recur.
Note these examples:
When you are teaching your dog tricks, you reward it with a biscuit or a pat on the head. When a parent is toilet training a 2-year-old, the parent may applaud when the child successfully goes in the potty; that applause is the reinforcer. Both the dog and the child will continue these behaviors because they have been rewarded with something that is important or desired; their behaviors have been positively reinforced.