Lessons on Learning: Positive Reinforcement
By Malcolm Towler, Guest Blogger
Reinforcement is, a “basic operant functional relation” for learning. When a type of behavior (R) is followed by reinforcement (SR) there will be an increased future frequency of that type of behavior” (Michael, 2004). Positive reinforcement, in its most basic definition, is the addition of a stimulus following a behavior that will increase that likelihood of that behavior’s future occurrence.
Example of positive reinforcement that Barbara often gives is your paycheck for the job. An additional, and more covert, example is getting ripe fruit from a particular store. When you purchase fruit at a location that is full of flavor, you tend to go back to that store to purchase more fruit. Reinforcement teaches us behaviors that we should engage in. The most important thing that maximizes the effectiveness of positive reinforcement is the schedule of reinforcement that is used, but this is a topic for a future newsletter.
Malcolm is a determined and hard-working gentleman who currently attends Bowie State University (BSU) in Bowie, MD. Mr. Towler is a published poet, plays the saxophone, and is a member of the BSU Symphony of Soul Marching Band. He is earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a goal of becoming a Biomedical Engineer.