Psychology
Explainer
Negative Reinforcement Is Not Punishment
Negative reinforcement makes behaviour MORE likely. Most students get it wrong.
Quick check · tap an answer to continue
Lesson notes
Key points
- Operant conditioning, described by B. F. Skinner, is learning where consequences change how often a voluntary behaviour occurs.
- Reinforcement always increases behaviour, while punishment always decreases it; positive means adding something and negative means removing something.
- Taking paracetamol removes a headache, so the removal reinforces pill-taking: that is negative reinforcement, not punishment.
Definitions
- Operant conditioning
- Learning in which the consequences of a voluntary behaviour change how likely it is to be repeated.
Takeaway: Reinforcement increases behaviour; negative just means removing.
Quick check: Seatbelt beeping stops when you buckle up. This is:
- Negative reinforcement
- Positive punishment
- Negative punishment
An unpleasant beep is removed, increasing buckling up.
Operant conditioningFour quadrantsNegative reinforcement
Lessons like this, for your syllabus.
Short narrated study videos written for your course, level and exam. Free to start.
Get lessons for your own syllabus