Notes on Operant Contingencies
Some students may be confused about the four types of operant contingencies and ask "how do I determine if punishment/ reinforcement is positive or negative?"
The following are some hints for distinguishing "Positive” from "Negative” in Operant Conditioning:
(1) Determine if you would be more likely or less likely to perform the behavior given the consequences presented in the scenario:
Punishment: Less likely to perform the behavior
Reinforcement: More likely to perform the behavior
(2) Determine if the behavior results in something being applied (presented) or withdrawn (taken away).
Positive (application - something is presented)
Positive Punishment: Something bad is presented (or happens) as a consequence of performing the behavior.
Positive Reinforcement: Something pleasing or good is presented (or happens) as a consequence of performing the behavior. .
Negative (removal - something taken away)
Negative Punishment: Something pleasing or good is taken away as a consequence of performing the behavior.
Negative Reinforcement: Something aversive is taken away as a consequence of performing the behavior.
Remember! The positive or negative aspect has nothing to do with the goodness or aversive nature of the outcome. In other words, negative does not simply refer to what you traditionally view as punishment and positive does not simply refer to what you traditionally view as reinforcement.