Difficult topics explained, negative reinforcement (increasing a behaviour,)versus punishment. Many people confuse the terms

negative reinforcement and punishment, thinking they mean the same thing but they don't.

Remember reinforcers in general strength involuntary responses

and punishers weakens involuntary responses. So growing up while I was in school

my mom could have punished me whenever I got bad marks. This would weekend

whatever behavior that was causing me to get bad marks. Or she could have reinforced

by good behavior with something I wanted whenever I studied for a test.

Now there are two types of each approach, positive and negative.

Positive reinforcement is a process that strengthens the chances of a behaviour

by adding stimulus (a thing) after the behaviour is performed.

Negative reinforcement also strengthens the chances of a behaviour but

by removing an something I didn't want. So my mom could have told me that if I

got good marks at school during the year, then I wouldn't have to get a summer job.

this would be my reinforce. Note that in both situations the behaviour of

getting good marks is strengthened. we can punish a behaviour by also adding or

removing a thing. Like I could punish bad behavior of a child by hitting them

or I could punish you after you speed by taking away your drivers license.

Both of these things would act to take away bad behaviour.

So punishment is either adding or removing something that would stop a bad behaviour from happening.

And reinforcement is adding or removing something that would make the behaviour happen again.