Positive Negative Reinforcement Psychology
Negative reinforcement is a concept from behavioral psychology that is often misunderstood. Unlike punishment, which is designed to decrease a behavior, negative reinforcement aims to increase the likelihood of a behavior by removing an unpleasant or aversive stimulus. This concept is rooted in operant conditioning, a learning process that involves modifying behavior through the use of consequences. To fully grasp negative reinforcement, it’s essential to understand its definition, how it works, and how it manifests in everyday situations.
Negative Reinforcement Definition
Negative reinforcement occurs when a behavior is strengthened or increased because it is followed by the removal, reduction, or avoidance of an unpleasant stimulus. The term “negative” in this context does not refer to something bad but rather to the subtraction or removal of something. The reinforcement part means that the behavior is encouraged and is more likely to be repeated in the future.
The key to negative reinforcement is the relationship between the behavior and the aversive stimulus. When the behavior successfully eliminates or reduces the unpleasant condition, the likelihood of the behavior occurring again in similar circumstances increases. This process can lead to the development of habits or patterns where certain actions are performed to avoid discomfort or stress.
Examples of Negative Reinforcement
Negative reinforcement is a common occurrence in everyday life, often influencing our actions without us even realizing it. Here are some examples that illustrate how negative reinforcement works in different situations:
- Waking Up to an Alarm Clock: Many people use alarm clocks to wake up in the morning. The sound of the alarm is an unpleasant stimulus. When you wake up and turn off the alarm, you are removing the aversive noise. The behavior of getting up when the alarm rings is reinforced because it stops the annoying sound. Over time, you become more likely to wake up quickly when the alarm goes off to avoid the discomfort of the noise.
- Avoiding Traffic by Leaving Early: Commuters often adjust their schedules to avoid heavy traffic. Suppose you usually leave for work at 8:00 AM and encounter heavy traffic, causing frustration and stress. You decide to start leaving at 7:30 AM instead, and you notice that the traffic is much lighter. By leaving earlier, you have avoided the aversive experience of sitting in traffic. The next time, you are more likely to leave early again, reinforcing this new behavior.
- Wearing a Seatbelt: The seatbelt alarm in many cars is a perfect example of negative reinforcement. When you start driving without fastening your seatbelt, a loud beeping noise begins. To stop this unpleasant sound, you buckle your seatbelt. The behavior of fastening your seatbelt is reinforced because it removes the annoying beeping. Consequently, you are more likely to buckle up in the future to avoid the discomfort of the alarm.
- Using an Umbrella to Avoid Getting Wet: Imagine it’s raining, and you decide to carry an umbrella. The rain itself is an aversive stimulus because getting wet is uncomfortable. By using the umbrella, you avoid getting soaked. The next time it rains, you are more likely to take an umbrella with you because the behavior of using one has been reinforced by the removal of the unpleasant experience of getting wet.
- Studying to Avoid Anxiety: Students often experience anxiety before exams. Suppose a student tends to procrastinate and feels extremely anxious the night before a big test. After a particularly stressful experience, they decide to start studying earlier for the next exam. By doing so, they reduce their anxiety, an unpleasant feeling. The behavior of studying early is negatively reinforced because it removes the aversive stimulus of last-minute stress.
- Cleaning to Avoid Nagging: In many households, one partner might frequently remind the other to do chores, such as taking out the trash or doing the dishes. This nagging can be seen as an aversive stimulus. To avoid the nagging, the person might start doing the chores more regularly. The behavior of completing household tasks is reinforced by the removal of the unpleasant reminders, making it more likely that the chores will be done without prompting in the future.
- Principle of Avoidance: You may have noticed that each instance of negative reinforcement involves avoidance of something. The concept of avoidance is more central to the concept of negative reinforcement than the concept of negative. It’s important to remember that avoiding something has a positive effect on behavior. That is, it increases some behavior. Negative reinforcement does not decrease behavior.
Difference Between Negative Reinforcement Punishment
It’s important to distinguish negative reinforcement from punishment. While both involve unpleasant stimuli, their functions are different. Punishment is meant to decrease or suppress a behavior by introducing an aversive stimulus or removing a pleasant one. For example, if a child is scolded for drawing on the walls, the scolding is intended to reduce the likelihood of the child repeating the behavior. In contrast, negative reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior by removing an aversive condition, as seen in the examples above. In punishment the aversive condition is applied; in negative reinforcement the aversive condition is removed.
Conclusion
Negative reinforcement is a powerful tool in shaping behavior, both in humans and animals. By understanding how it works, we can better comprehend why we develop certain habits and how we can use this knowledge to modify behavior effectively. Whether it’s waking up to an alarm, avoiding traffic, or studying to reduce anxiety, negative reinforcement plays a significant role in our daily lives, often guiding our actions in subtle but impactful ways. In the actual applications of negative reinforcement, it should be noted that some behaviors are maintained by negative reinforcement. When this occurs, the negative reinforcers must be removed to decrease the targeted behavior. Using positive reinforcement on other behaviors will generally not be successful in removing the behavior that is negatively reinforced unless the performance of one excludes the performance of the other.