reinforcement

Examples of reinforcement in the following topics:

• Reinforcement Principles

• Reinforcement and Punishment

  • Both reinforcement and punishment can be positive or negative.
  • A primary reinforcer, also called an unconditioned reinforcer, is a stimulus that has innate reinforcing qualities.
  • These kinds of reinforcers are not learned.
  • Some primary reinforcers, such as drugs and alcohol, merely mimic the effects of other reinforcers.
  • A secondary reinforcer, also called a conditioned reinforcer, has no inherent value and only has reinforcing qualities when linked or paired with a primary reinforcer.

• Reinforcement Theory

  • These four inputs are positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment.
  • A fifth input could be described as extinction, which is a lack of reinforcement for a behavior that had previously been reinforced.
  • This will positively reinforce the desired behavior.
  • Negative reinforcement: When a desired behavior is responded to with the removal of something the individual doesn't like, the behavior is reinforced.
  • Immediacy - The time between the desired behavior and the potential reinforcement will have impact on how significantly the reinforcement will be correlated with the behavior.

• Reinforced Concrete Construction

  • Reinforced concrete is a composite material in which the low tensile strength of concrete is reinforced with a material such as steel.
  • The reinforcement in the case of concrete is usually, though not always, steel reinforcing bars known as rebar, and is usually embedded passively in the concrete before the concrete sets.
  • Modern reinforced concrete can contain varied reinforcing materials made of steel, polymers, or alternate composite material which may or may not be used with rebar.
  • There are many different methods of reinforced concrete construction, depending on the ductility and strength of the reinforcement beams.
  • Cracking can allow moisture to penetrate and corrode the reinforcement.

• Reinforcement as a Management Tool

  • Reinforcement is a process of strengthening desirable behaviors, often through the use of rewards.
  • Reinforcement is a term used in the context of behavioral analysis and in a specific kind of intentional behavior change known as operant conditioning.
  • In reinforcement, the rate of the target behavior is increased by giving a reward (i.e., "positive reinforcement") or by removing an unpleasant stimulus (i.e., "negative reinforcement") immediately or shortly after each occurrence of the behavior.
  • Giving a monkey a banana for performing a trick is an example of positive reinforcement; quieting a constant unpleasantly loud noise when a rat pushes a button is an example of negative reinforcement.
  • This soldier reinforces her dog's desirable behavior by giving it a treat.

• Schedules of Reinforcement

  • Reinforcement schedules determine how and when a behavior will be followed by a reinforcer.
  • Fixed refers to when the number of responses between reinforcements, or the amount of time between reinforcements, is set and unchanging.
  • Interval means the schedule is based on the time between reinforcements, and ratio means the schedule is based on the number of responses between reinforcements.
  • Extinction of a reinforced behavior occurs at some point after reinforcement stops, and the speed at which this happens depends on the reinforcement schedule.
  • The four reinforcement schedules yield different response patterns.

• Positive Reinforcement

  • Positive reinforcement is the addition of an appetitive stimulus to increase a certain behavior or response.
  • Reinforcement is a term under operant conditioning and behavioral analysis.
  • In most situations, positive reinforcement is better than punishment.
  • Positive reinforcement can also be stated as rewarding a person for the good work he or she does.
  • Evaluate the approaches and outcomes attributed to positive reinforcement methods in the workplace

• Shaping

  • Shaping is a method of operant conditioning by which successive approximations of a target behavior are reinforced.
  • Then reinforce the response that more closely resembles the target behavior.
  • You will no longer reinforce the previously reinforced response.
  • Next, begin to reinforce the response that even more closely resembles the target behavior.
  • Continue to reinforce closer and closer approximations of the target behavior.

• Contracts, Consequences, Reinforcement, and Extinction

  • This type of reinforcement occurs frequently in the classroom.
  • Teachers may provide positive reinforcement by:
  • Many classroom teachers mistakenly believe that negative reinforcement is punishment administered to suppress behavior; however, negative reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior, as does positive reinforcement.
  • Negative reinforcement might include:
  • This video illustrates negative reinforcement, positive reinforcement, and punishment.

• Behavior Modification

  • Reinforcement, both positive and negative, can be created via incentives or the removal and avoidance of negative stimuli. 
  • Hence the idea of reinforcing something deliberately, after it occurs.
  • This is positive reinforcement.
  • This is negative reinforcement.
  • Differentiate between the various stimuli managers use to create or reinforce certain types of behavior