Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow Does Negative Reinforcment Work?ExamplesVersus Positive ReinforcementVersus PunishmentUsesEffectivenessBenefitsDrawbacks
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How Does Negative Reinforcment Work?
Examples
Versus Positive Reinforcement
Versus Punishment
Uses
Effectiveness
Benefits
Drawbacks
Close
This article discusses how negative reinforcement works, how it compares to other behavioral learning methods, and how effective it can be in the learning process.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Aversive stimuli tend to involve some type of discomfort, either physical or psychological. Behaviors are negatively reinforced when they allow you to escape from aversive stimuli that are already present or allow you to completely avoid the aversive stimuli before they happen.
Deciding to take an antacid before you indulge in a spicy meal is an example of negative reinforcement. You engage in an action in order to avoid a negative result.
One of the best ways to remember negative reinforcement is to think of it as something beingsubtractedfrom the situation.
There are two different types of negative reinforcement: example and avoidance learning. Escape learning involves being able to escape an undesirable stimulus, while avoidance learning involves being able to prevent experiencing the aversive stimulus altogether.
Examples of Negative Reinforcement
Looking at some real-world examples can be a great way to get a better idea about what negative reinforcement is and how it works. Consider the following situations:
Negative vs. Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is a type of reinforcement that involves giving someone the desired reward in response to a behavior. This might involve offering praise, money, or other incentives.
Negative Reinforcement vs. Punishment
One mistake that people often make is confusing negative reinforcement withpunishment. Remember, however, that negative reinforcement involves theremovalof a negative condition to strengthen a behavior.
Punishment involves either presenting or taking away a stimulus toweakena behavior.
Consider the following example and determine whether you think it is an example of negative reinforcement or punishment:
Luke is supposed to clean his room every Saturday morning. Last weekend, he went out to play with his friend without cleaning his room. As a result, his father made him spend the rest of the weekend doing other chores like cleaning out the garage, mowing the lawn, and weeding the garden, in addition to cleaning his room.
If you are trying to distinguish between negative reinforcement or punishment, consider whether something is being added or taken away from a situation.
If an unwanted outcome is beingadded or appliedas a consequence of a behavior, then it is an example of punishment. If something is beingremovedin order to avoid or relieve an unwanted outcome, then it is an example of negative reinforcement.
Uses for Negative Reinforcement
Negative reinforcement can be utilized in a variety of ways in many different settings. A few examples include:
Parenting
Parents can use negative reinforcement to encourage positive behaviors in various ways. For example, a parent might eliminate a chore that their child is supposed to do if they finish all of the other tasks on their list. Another example is giving children more time to play on their tablets if they finish all of their homework first.
Education
One example of negative reinforcement in the classroom is canceling a task that students dislike (such as a pop quiz) if they complete all their assigned work on time.
Psychotherapy
Negative reinforcement is often utilized as a part of addiction treatment andbehavioral therapy. People who have been convicted of drug-related offenses, for example, might be able to have their sentences reduced if they participate in drug and alcohol treatment.
In behavioral therapy, negative reinforcement can help strengthen positive behaviors. As people develop skills, they may find that practicing new coping skills eliminates unpleasant outcomes, which can help further reinforce new behaviors.
Negative reinforcement can be an effective way to strengthen the desired behavior. However, it is most effective when reinforcers are presented immediately following a behavior. When a long period elapses between the behavior and the reinforcer, the response is likely to be weaker.
In some cases, behaviors that occur in the intervening time between the initial action and the reinforcer are may also be inadvertently strengthened as well.
Some experts believe that negative reinforcement should be used sparingly in classroom settings, whilepositive reinforcementshould be emphasized.
While negative reinforcement can produce immediate results, it may be best suited for short-term use.
Benefits of Negative Reinforcement
While the name of this type of reinforcement often leads people to think that it is a “negative” type of reinforcement, negative reinforcement can have several benefits that can make it a valuable tool in the learning process. Potential advantages include:
Potential Pitfalls of Negative Reinforcement
While negative reinforcement can be a helpful learning tool, it can have some potential downsides.
A Word From Verywell
Negative reinforcement can have a powerful effect on behavior, but it tends to be most useful when used as a short-term solution. The type of reinforcement used is important, but how quickly and how often the reinforcement is given also plays a major role in the strength of the response. The schedule of reinforcement that is used can have an important impact not only how quickly a behavior is learned, but also on the strength of the response.
How Schedules of Reinforcement Work in Psychology
6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Skinner BF.Operant behavior.American Psychologist,1963;18(8): 503–515. doi:10.1037/h0045185American Psychological Association.Negative reinforcement.American Psychological Association.Aversive stimulus.American Psychological Association.Positive reinforcement.Sprouls K, Mathur SR, Upreti G.Is positive feedback a forgotten classroom practice? Findings and implications for at-risk students.Preventing School Failure: Alternative Education for Children and Youth.2015;59(3), 153-160. doi:10.1080/1045988X.2013.876958Segers E, Beckers T, Geurts H, Claes L, Danckaerts M, van der Oord S.Working memory and reinforcement schedule jointly determine reinforcement learning in children: Potential implications for behavioral parent training.Front Psychol. 2018;9:394. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00394Additional ReadingCoon, D & Mitterer, JO.Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning; 2010.Domjan, MP. The Principles ofLearning and Behavior: Active Learning Edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning; 2010.
6 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Skinner BF.Operant behavior.American Psychologist,1963;18(8): 503–515. doi:10.1037/h0045185American Psychological Association.Negative reinforcement.American Psychological Association.Aversive stimulus.American Psychological Association.Positive reinforcement.Sprouls K, Mathur SR, Upreti G.Is positive feedback a forgotten classroom practice? Findings and implications for at-risk students.Preventing School Failure: Alternative Education for Children and Youth.2015;59(3), 153-160. doi:10.1080/1045988X.2013.876958Segers E, Beckers T, Geurts H, Claes L, Danckaerts M, van der Oord S.Working memory and reinforcement schedule jointly determine reinforcement learning in children: Potential implications for behavioral parent training.Front Psychol. 2018;9:394. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00394Additional ReadingCoon, D & Mitterer, JO.Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning; 2010.Domjan, MP. The Principles ofLearning and Behavior: Active Learning Edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning; 2010.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Skinner BF.Operant behavior.American Psychologist,1963;18(8): 503–515. doi:10.1037/h0045185American Psychological Association.Negative reinforcement.American Psychological Association.Aversive stimulus.American Psychological Association.Positive reinforcement.Sprouls K, Mathur SR, Upreti G.Is positive feedback a forgotten classroom practice? Findings and implications for at-risk students.Preventing School Failure: Alternative Education for Children and Youth.2015;59(3), 153-160. doi:10.1080/1045988X.2013.876958Segers E, Beckers T, Geurts H, Claes L, Danckaerts M, van der Oord S.Working memory and reinforcement schedule jointly determine reinforcement learning in children: Potential implications for behavioral parent training.Front Psychol. 2018;9:394. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00394
Skinner BF.Operant behavior.American Psychologist,1963;18(8): 503–515. doi:10.1037/h0045185
American Psychological Association.Negative reinforcement.
American Psychological Association.Aversive stimulus.
American Psychological Association.Positive reinforcement.
Sprouls K, Mathur SR, Upreti G.Is positive feedback a forgotten classroom practice? Findings and implications for at-risk students.Preventing School Failure: Alternative Education for Children and Youth.2015;59(3), 153-160. doi:10.1080/1045988X.2013.876958
Segers E, Beckers T, Geurts H, Claes L, Danckaerts M, van der Oord S.Working memory and reinforcement schedule jointly determine reinforcement learning in children: Potential implications for behavioral parent training.Front Psychol. 2018;9:394. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00394
Coon, D & Mitterer, JO.Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning; 2010.Domjan, MP. The Principles ofLearning and Behavior: Active Learning Edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning; 2010.
Coon, D & Mitterer, JO.Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning; 2010.
Domjan, MP. The Principles ofLearning and Behavior: Active Learning Edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning; 2010.
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