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Reinforcement causes behavior to ________________ in the future while punishment causes behavior to __________ in the future.

a) increase; decrease
b) decrease; increase
c) remain the same; increase
d) increase; remain the same

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

Positive reinforcement increases behavior, while positive punishment decreases behavior.

Step-by-step explanation:

In operant conditioning, positive reinforcement is when a desirable stimulus is added to increase a behavior, while positive punishment is when an undesirable stimulus is added to decrease a behavior.

For example, if you receive a reward for completing your homework (adding a desirable stimulus), you are more likely to continue completing your homework in the future. On the other hand, if you receive a detention for talking in class (adding an undesirable stimulus), you are less likely to talk in class in the future.

Therefore, the correct answer is option a) increase; decrease.

User Tiago Peczenyj
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