In the field of behavior and learning, a “consequence” refers to an event that follows a behavior. These subsequent events play a significant role in determining whether that behavior is more or less likely to occur again in the future. Understanding these relationships helps explain how habits are formed and behaviors are modified over time. The interaction between a behavior and its outcome is a central concept in operant conditioning, a learning method developed by B.F. Skinner.
How Reinforcement Shapes Behavior
Reinforcement consistently works to increase the likelihood that a behavior will be repeated. This process can occur in two distinct ways: positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement. Both methods aim to strengthen a specific action, but they achieve this through different means involving the addition or removal of stimuli.
Positive reinforcement involves adding something desirable or rewarding after a behavior occurs. For instance, if a child cleans their room and then receives praise from a parent, the positive feeling associated with the praise increases the chance they will clean their room again. A student receiving a good grade on an assignment encourages them to study effectively for future assignments. The addition of the desirable outcome strengthens the preceding action.
Negative reinforcement, conversely, involves removing an unpleasant or undesirable stimulus following a behavior. Consider a car’s annoying beeping sound that stops only when a seatbelt is fastened; the removal of the irritating sound reinforces the act of buckling up. If a person takes an antacid to relieve heartburn, the removal of the discomfort reinforces the behavior of taking antacids when heartburn occurs. The cessation of an aversive condition strengthens the action that led to its removal.
How Punishment Shapes Behavior
Punishment consistently works to decrease the likelihood that a behavior will be repeated. Similar to reinforcement, punishment also has two distinct forms: positive punishment and negative punishment. Both types aim to weaken a specific action, but they do so by either adding an undesirable stimulus or removing a desirable one.
Positive punishment involves adding an undesirable or aversive stimulus after a behavior. An example is a child being scolded for talking out of turn in class; the teacher’s reprimand, an added unpleasant consequence, aims to decrease the disruptive behavior. An athlete having to do extra sprints after missing a practice, with the added physical exertion intended to reduce future absences. The introduction of the negative consequence weakens the behavior.
Negative punishment, on the other hand, involves removing a desirable stimulus or something rewarding immediately following a behavior. For example, if a teenager loses video game privileges for not completing chores, the removal of the desirable activity is intended to make them less likely to neglect chores in the future. A child might have their toy taken away for hitting a sibling, with the aim of reducing aggressive behavior. This subtraction of a valued item or privilege serves to weaken the unwanted action.
Clarifying the Types of Consequences
It is common to misunderstand the terms “positive” and “negative” in the context of behavioral consequences. In everyday language, “positive” often implies “good” and “negative” implies “bad,” but in behavioral science, these terms have precise meanings. Here, “positive” strictly means the addition of something, while “negative” strictly means the removal of something.
This distinction is irrespective of whether the added or removed item is considered good or bad. The consistency and immediacy with which a consequence follows a behavior are significant factors in how effectively it influences future actions.