Which statement best defines positive reinforcement?

Which statement best defines positive reinforcement?

• A. the removal of something unpleasant to increase frequency
• B. the addition of something pleasant to the situation to increase the frequency of a desired behavior
• C. the addition of something aversive to decrease the behavior in the future
• D. the removal of something pleasant to decrease behavior

Answer: (B)

Positive reinforcement means adding something pleasant after a behavior to make that behavior more likely to occur again. In practice, giving a treat, praise, or a favorite toy when the animal does the desired behavior strengthens it, because the pleasant consequence encourages repetition. The other ideas describe different learning processes: removing something unpleasant to increase a behavior is negative reinforcement, adding something aversive to decrease a behavior is positive punishment, and removing something pleasant to decrease a behavior is negative punishment. These distinctions show why the statement about adding a pleasant thing to boost the desired behavior is the best fit.

Positive reinforcement means adding something pleasant after a behavior to make that behavior more likely to occur again. In practice, giving a treat, praise, or a favorite toy when the animal does the desired behavior strengthens it, because the pleasant consequence encourages repetition.

The other ideas describe different learning processes: removing something unpleasant to increase a behavior is negative reinforcement, adding something aversive to decrease a behavior is positive punishment, and removing something pleasant to decrease a behavior is negative punishment. These distinctions show why the statement about adding a pleasant thing to boost the desired behavior is the best fit.