Re: definition of negative reinforcement

[Jeffrey Nagelbush]

I was taught that the the effect of negative reinforcers and positive 
reinforcers depended on how the contigencies were established.  The 
following is a paragraph from the B. F. Skinner Foundation by Skinner.  It 
appears to support both sides of the argument:

Reinforcers may be positive or negative.  A positive reinforcer reinforces 
when it is presented; a negative reinforcer reinforces when it is withdrawn. 
 Negative reinforcement is not punishment.  Reinforcers always strengthen 
behavior; that is what "reinforced" means.  Punishment is used to suppress 
behavior.  It consists of removing a positive reinforcer or presenting a 
negative one.  It often seems to operate by conditioning negative 
reinforcers.  The punished person henceforth acts in ways which reduce the 
threat of punishment and which are incompatible with, and hence take the 
place of, the behavior punished.

Jeff Nagelbush
Ferris State University
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

From: "Mark A. Casteel" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences" 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: definition of negative reinforcement
Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2003 14:11:04 -0500

For what it's worth from a source that has been around for a long time (and 
one from which I taught when I was in grad school)

Baldwin & Baldwin, "Behavior Principles in Everyday Life": "To reinforce 
mean to strengthen, and both positive and negative reinforcement strengthen 
behavior. They both increase the likelihood that people will repeat a 
behavior in the future." . . . Postive reinforcement occurs with teh onset 
of a reinforcing stimulus, and negative reinforcement occurs with the 
termination fo an aversive stimulus."



*********************************
Mark A. Casteel, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology
Penn State York
1031 Edgecomb Ave.
York, PA  17403
(717) 771-4028
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