Reinforcement and Punishment Definition and Examples

Question 1

Reinforcement

Answer 1

A consequence stimulus that
maintains or increases a behavior

Question 2

Punishment

Answer 2

A consequence stimulus that decreases a behavior

Question 3

Postitive Reinforcement (SR+)

Answer 3

(SR+) is “adding” (delivering)
something of value that
increases the future rate of
the behavior it follows

Question 4

Negative Reinforcement (SR-)

Answer 4

(SR-) is “taking away”
something aversive that
increases the future rate of
the behavior it follows

Question 5

Negative Punishment (Type 2)

Answer 5

Taking away something of value that decreases the future rate of the behavior it follows

Question 6

Postitive Punishment (Type 1)

Answer 6

Adding something aversive that decreases the future rate of the behavior it follows

Question 7

A child touches a hot stove and feels pain.

Answer 7

Postitive Punishment (Type 2)

Pain is added after the behavior which decreases the chance that the child will do it again.

Question 8

A teenager loses phone privileges after staying out past curfew.

Answer 8

Negative Punishment (Type 1)

The phone is taken away after the behavior which is meant to decrease that behavior in the future.

Question 9

A student is allowed to skip a chore because they got a good grade on a test.

Answer 9

Negative Reinforcement (SR-)

The chore is taken away to increase the likelihood of getting a good grade

Question 10

A teacher gives a student a gold star for completing their homework.

Answer 10

Postitive Reinforcement (SR+)

Adding a gold star to increase the likelihood of completing homework.