Positive reinforcement is a concept in behavioral psychology that involves rewarding desired behaviors with something pleasant or desirable in order to increase the likelihood of that behavior being repeated in the future. Positive reinforcement is a basic principle of operant conditioning, which refers to the introduction of a desirable or pleasant stimulus after a behavior, such as a reward. Positive reinforcement can be used to teach and strengthen behaviors, and there are four types of positive reinforcers: natural, tangible, social, and token.
According to Simply Psychology, positive reinforcement has numerous consequences, both in the lab and the outside world, ranging from learning and workplace conduct to social media use. Positive reinforcement can be delivered in experiments as part of a partially fixed schedule. The use of positive reinforcement as a way of training animals dates back to early psychological research, particularly the works of B.F. Skinner, who devised a method of rewarding positive behavior called the Skinner box.
Positive reinforcement can be a powerful tool in shaping behavior, but it is important to note that it is not the same as bribery. Positive reinforcement involves rewarding behavior that is already occurring or has been requested, while bribery involves offering a reward in exchange for a behavior that is not already occurring or has not been requested.
