Reinforcement and Punishment

The purpose of this website is to help you define operant conditioning, identify types of reinforcement, and distinguish between negative reinforcement and punishment.

Is this picture illustrating
REINFORCEMENT or PUNISHMENT?

 

Reinforcement?
(click for the answer)

 
little boy sitting in the corner

Punishment?
(click for the answer)

 

Confused? Don't feel alone. Consider what a psychology professor told me recently:
 

 

Reinforcement increases the behavior that preceded it. Punishment decreases
the behavior that preceded it.

This concept is so difficult for many people to comprehend that our college uses the question "What is the difference between positive and negative reinforcement and positive and negative punishment?" in their oral interviews for psychology instructors.

 

  
The Good News: At the conclusion of this lesson, you will be able to define operant conditioning, identify types of reinforcement, and distinguish between negative reinforcement and punishment. To complete this lesson, follow the arrows and have fun! ( if you get lost just click on the compass to take you to the site map)

 

What do you already know about reinforcement and punishment?