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Positive Reinforcement

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Define positive reinforcement and explain how positive reinforcement is influenced by timing, consistency of reinforcement and the properties of the reinforcer.

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This solution defines positive reinforcement and explains how positive reinforcement is influenced by timing, consistency of reinforcement and the properties of the reinforcer.

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11. Define positive reinforcement and explain how positive reinforcement is influenced by timing, consistency of reinforcement and the properties of the reinforcer.

Reinforcement is a change in the environment causing the rate of behavior responses of the subject to remain the same or increase. There are two types of behavioral reinforcers.
• Positive reinforcement changes the animal's (or person's) surroundings by adding an appetitive stimulus: a physical object (like a food pellet or paycheck) or energy (like light from a lamp) or praising a child.
• Negative reinforcement changes the surroundings by removing an aversive stimulus - such as turning off a painful electric current or removing a hated ex-spouse's picture. One type of negative reinforcement procedure is escape. In an escape trial, an aversive stimulus is present but can be terminated by an instrumental response. An example of this ...

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