Question

Positive reinforcement refers to a consequence being ________; whereas negative reinforcement refers to a consequence being ________?

1) rewarding, punishing
2) pleasant, unpleasant
3) desirable, undesirable
4) encouraging, discouraging

Answer 1

Positive reinforcement is rewarding, while negative reinforcement is pleasant.

Step-by-step explanation:

In operant conditioning, positive reinforcement refers to a consequence being rewarding, while negative reinforcement refers to a consequence being pleasant.

Positive reinforcement involves adding a desirable stimulus to increase a behavior. For example, giving a child a sticker as a reward for completing their homework is positive reinforcement.

On the other hand, negative reinforcement involves removing an undesirable stimulus to increase a behavior. For instance, if someone stops experiencing an annoying sound when they fasten their seatbelt in a car, this is an example of negative reinforcement.