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What is Reinforcement?
Written in September 2017. Descriptions of people, programs and availability below describe that time.
A definition of reinforcement is something that occurs when a stimulus is presented or removed following a response and, in the future, increases the frequency of that behavior in similar circumstances. (Cooper, Heron, and Heward 2007).
In other words, adding or taking something away AFTER a behavior occurs will increase the likelihood that the same behavior will happen again at a future time.
There are two types of reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is when something is added after a behavior occurs (ex. a child receives a sticker or a high five after a correct response). Negative reinforcement is when something is taken away after a behavior occurs (ex. Taking medication when one has a headache- removal of the headache increases the likelihood that one will take the medication in the future).
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