The money is added to your environment, i.e., your bank account. Getting that paycheck at the end of the week or seeing your direct deposit go through makes it more likely that you will go back to work on Monday.

In this example your added praise and attention after they said “Mama” reinforced that response, making it more likely they will say it again in the future!Īnother example of positive reinforcement would be getting paid after going to work. You tell them “Yes!” and give them hugs and tickles. For example, let’s say you tell your child to say, “Mama,” and they say “Mama” back. Positive reinforcement happens when an object or event is added to your child’s environment after they behave a certain way, making it more likely they will behave that way in the future. This example demonstrated reinforcement of 2 behaviors through 2 different types: positive and negative. Similarly, because your child immediately stopped their tantrum, you are more likely to give them the cookie (or whatever they want) after they cry or throw a tantrum in the future. In this example, giving them the cookie after a few minutes of crying and screaming has reinforced or increased the chances of them crying and screaming to get what they want next time. In the future, it is more likely that your child will cry and throw a tantrum when they want something. After a few minutes of this, you decided you’ve had enough and give them the cookie. Then their cries turn into a loud, full-blown tantrum. You hurry over there and take the cookie from them, letting them know they can’t have the cookie until they finish their dinner. Let’s say your child is climbing up onto the counter to get one of the delicious chocolate chip cookies you baked earlier. In other words, this object or event increases a behavior. Reinforcement is something (an object or event) in your child’s environment that makes it more likely they will behave that way in the future. This week’s topic will cover reinforcement and its two types: positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement. By: Desiree Garcia, Precision ABA Behavior Technician Parents

Negative reinforcement