Final answer:
Positive reinforcement is when a desirable stimulus is added to increase a behavior, while negative reinforcement is when an undesirable stimulus is removed to increase a behavior. On the other hand, positive punishment is when an undesirable stimulus is added to decrease a behavior, and negative punishment is when a pleasant stimulus is removed to decrease a behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
In operant conditioning, positive and negative do not mean good and bad. Positive means you are adding something, and negative means you are taking something away. Reinforcement means you are increasing a behavior, and punishment means you are decreasing a behavior. Positive reinforcement is when a desirable stimulus is added to increase a behavior, for example, giving a child a treat for completing their homework. Negative reinforcement is when an undesirable stimulus is removed to increase a behavior, for example, turning off an alarm after you wake up in the morning. Positive punishment is when an undesirable stimulus is added to decrease a behavior, for example, scolding a student for texting in class. Negative punishment is when a pleasant stimulus is removed to decrease a behavior, for example, taking away a favorite toy after a child misbehaves.