What is positive reinforcement in psychology and examples

There are different strategies to regulate a person's behavior and behavior. One of the most effective strategies is positive reinforcement, since it promotes the repetition of desired behavior without the need to punish or assault. It is a disciplinary stimulus technique that helps with positive parenting, education and transmission of values.

To expand a little more information on this fascinating topic, in this Psychology-online article, we will explain to you What is positive reinforcement in psychology and some examples. In this way, you will know how to apply the strategy, what are its characteristics and the types of positive reinforcements that exist.

1. What is positive reinforcement
2. Positive reinforcement characteristics
3. Types of positive reinforcement
4. Positive reinforcement techniques
5. Positive reinforcement examples

What is positive reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is an operant conditioning strategy that implies the addition or application of a positive stimulus immediately after a desired behavior in order to make this behavior repeat. In other words, When there is a reward after an action with the objective of strengthen awarded behavior.

Within the operating theory of Burrhus Frederic Skinner, this reinforcement has as a basic action to ensure that an effect or behavior occurs in the future and is maintained over time.

Also, many times we apply the positive reinforcement in daily life without realizing. For example, if someone opens the door and we appreciate it, it is most likely that this person does the action again for feeling that he did something positive.

Positive reinforcement characteristics

The main characteristics of the positive reinforcement are the following:

• A pleasant reinforcer is needed that stimulates an answer, that is, something that generates pleasure or well -being.
• Strengthen a desired behavior to repeat more frequently and spontaneously.
• It is motivating a behavior And it can be through material and tangible reinforcements or with words and encouraging emotions.

First of all, it is essential that positive reinforcement is used properly and in specific situations. Otherwise, the correct association or the desired stimulus-response will not be generated. It is best to be constant in time and distribute the stimulus progressively so that the behavior is strengthened and maintained.

Benefits of applying positive reinforcement

From the psychological point of view, positive reinforcement increases the incidence of an answer as a result of a pleasant stimulus. Therefore, it is a Very assertive strategy To apply it in different fields as educational, work or family. The consequence produced by this stimulus is known as "positive reinforcer" or "reinforcer" and the stimulus itself, "reward".

In any case, we must bear in mind that the reward or stimulus must be proportional to behavior And, in turn, be pleasant so you can supply some effect on the person. For example, if you want someone Vegan acts better at work, you cannot reward him by inviting him to eat meat, since the effect will be the opposite.

Types of positive reinforcement

Anything with which you become familiar in day to day can be a positive reinforcer that stimulates behavior. However, there are some types of positive positive reinforcements that we will show you below:

• Natural reinforcement: When a person performs some action because he will obtain a stimulus naturally. For example, when someone makes a diet, the mere weight losing becomes a reinforcer.
• Social reinforcement: This is the reinforcement that occurs in the different social contexts and that aims to achieve the incidence of a behavior. For example, when the family congratulates one of its members for their academic or professional achievements.
• Tangible reinforcement: When awards and material and tangible awards are awarded such as money, walks or toys to stimulate a certain behavior.
• Individual reinforcement: It is a type of positive positive reinforcement that is given through internal dialogue to stimulate actions. For example, when you praise someone to achieve a goal or when you encourage you internally to complete a certain activity.

Positive reinforcement techniques

¿How positive reinforcement is applied? When applying it there are different techniques that ensure the success of the strategy. One of them is continuity and another intermittent programming. Let's see how they work:

• Continuity programs: They are intended to strengthen behavior with constant and immediate stimuli to the desired behavior. Its objective is to achieve the proper repetition of behavior to last. The continuity time will depend on each individual and their response capacity.
• Intermittent programs: Once the desired behavior is already obtained, it is passed to the intermittent positive reinforcement, in which behaviors are no longer constantly rewarded, but only those that are more resistant to perpetuate.

Positive reinforcement examples

Now that you know the main characteristics, techniques and types of positive reinforcement, let's see some practical examples about how this strategy is applied in different fields:

Positive reinforcement at work

In the workplace we can find many examples of positive reinforcement such as the following:

• When a sales worker obtains a good gain for the company, the boss rewards it with some incentive such as bonds, walks or vacations to be motivated to maintain their good performance.
• An entrepreneur who Publicly congratulate workers that always arrive early. In this case, congratulations words act as a stimulus.
• A boss who offers a pay rise Employees who go beyond what they are asked.

Positive reinforcement in education

Discover some examples of positive reinforcement in education:

• When a student maintains appropriate behavior in the classroom and the teacher rewards it with extra rest time or with some candy.
• The teachers who praise and motivate students that obtain an excellent rating.
• When a teacher distributes stars to the students who delivered their homework on time.

Positive reinforcement at home

In house care we can also find the following examples of positive reinforcement.

• The parents who congratulate and motivate children that keep their toys.
• The parents to them They give more privileges to one of his children because he helps with home tasks.
• The family that congratulates young people for obtaining good academic results.

In this article you will find information about positive reinforcement techniques in children and examples.

Positive reinforcement in sport

The sports field can also find multiple examples of positive reinforcement. Let's look at some:

• A player who is dedicated to train hard To get a medal or prize.
• Dancers who practice by simply demonstrating their dance skills.
• A person who run every afternoon To stay healthy and active.

This article is merely informative, in psychology-online we have no power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

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