For those who have taken Introduction to Psychology, you may have heard of B.F. Skinner’s theory of Operant Conditioning. Operant conditioning is a form of learning that utilizes rewards and punishments, otherwise known as reinforcement.

Reinforcement psychology is the study of reinforcement techniques on behavior. The principle of reinforcement suggests that when a behavior produces pleasant consequences; we are more likely to repeat that behavior. Whereas, behavior followed by negative consequences is less likely to be repeated.

For example, let’s say you are baking a cake. You are extremely excited to taste the cake, and when the cake finishes baking in the oven, you take the cake out from the oven without wearing cooking gloves. The heat from the cake pan burns your hand. From then on, you know never to open the oven and get your baked goods without wearing cooking gloves. This is an example of negative reinforcement.

What would an example of positive reinforcement be? Let’s take a look at another scenario. Sally has a Calculus final on Friday. She usually studies at home. But lately, she notices her productivity decreases when she studies at home. Thus, Sally decides to study at the local library. Not only does she find that her productivity at the library increased, but she scored higher in her Calculus exam in comparison to previous exams. Now, whenever Sally has an exam, she studies at the library instead of home to receive higher marks. This is positive reinforcement.

When reinforcement is used appropriately, it can be a great learning tool to increase desirable behaviors and eliminate undesirable ones. However, it is important to note each person’s concept and response to reinforcement can differ. By understanding how reinforcement works, we can get a deeper understanding of how reinforcement can improve behavior and learning.