Negative Reinforcement

Description of the Process

Reinforcement is a basic process in the development and maintenance of behavior. The effect of reinforcement is to strengthen or increase the probability of a response. There are two kinds of reinforcement: positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement. Positive reinforcement strengthens a behavior because the behavior is associated with the contingent presentation of a reinforcing event. Negative reinforcement strengthens a behavior because the behavior is associated with the contingent termination of an ongoing or probable aversive event. Most people's early morning behavior of rapidly striking at the alarm clock is an example of the process of negative reinforcement at work. For most people, an alarm clock ringing at 6:00 a.m. is an aversive event. Pushing the alarm button down is ...