What is the difference between positive and negative reinforcement? In your opinion, is either effective? Why or why not?
Positive reinforcement is responsible for changing the surroundings by adding a stimulus which enhances the likelihood of the occurrence of the behavior. On the other hand, negative reinforcement is responsible for changing the surrounding by eliminating the aversive stimulus increasing the likelihood of occurrence of the behavior.
Negative reinforcement and punishment is not the same thing. In case of punishment, when applied, it adds such an aversive stimulus in the surrounding that reduces the likelihood of occurrence of a particular behavior. On the other hand, negative reinforcement removes aversive stimulus from the environment so that the likelihood of the behavior is increased. In that sense, negative reinforcement strengthens behaviors to avoid or escape from an aversive event whereas in process of punishment an aversive event deteriorates the likelihood of the behavior it follows, as a result, they learn to suppress response that lead to unpleasant consequences.
Example of Positive Reinforcement:
Completion of homework is highly influenced by positive reinforcement. Here is an example of an 8 year old little boy, who is just unable to finish his homework everyday and on time. Moreover he was very clumsy and not neat while composing his assignments. His parents with the collaboration with his teacher initially set the time limits of working with homework as well as divide the homework into manageable chunks. Also they induce realistic goals with appropriate rewards (positive reinforcement) and penalty (negative reinforcement). The reward part associates offering attention and praise upon hard work and productivity, and the penalty include not allowed playing till the task is finished on time. This activity eventually increases the likelihood of the desired behavior, the boy starts doing better than before.
Reinforcers can also be further classified as primary and secondary. Primary reinforcers are natural; they are not learned. They usually satisfy basic biological needs, such as food, air, water, and shelter. Secondary reinforcers are those that have come to be associated with primary reinforcers. Since money can be used to satisfy the basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter, it is known as a secondary reinforcer. Secondary reinforcers are also called conditioned reinforcers.