Learning: Reinforcement Vs. Punishment by Amy Breaux | TPT - Free Printable

- A child who is scolded for being late to school and subsequently arrives on time is experiencing negative reinforcement. The scolding (aversive stimulus) is removed when the child arrives on time, increasing the likelihood of punctuality.
- A student receiving a poor grade after failing to study and then studying harder for the next test is an example of positive punishment. The poor grade (aversive stimulus) is added following the undesirable behavior (not studying), decreasing the likelihood of skipping study.
- A child who receives candy after apologizing for breaking a toy is undergoing positive reinforcement. The candy (pleasant stimulus) is added after the desirable behavior (apologizing), increasing the likelihood of future apologies.
- A child who loses TV privileges for fighting with siblings is experiencing negative punishment. The TV privileges (pleasant stimulus) are removed following the undesirable behavior (fighting), decreasing the likelihood of future fights.
- A child who gets a sticker for sharing toys and subsequently shares more often is undergoing positive reinforcement. The sticker (pleasant stimulus) is added after the desirable behavior (sharing), increasing the likelihood of future sharing.
- A child who is grounded for lying and subsequently tells fewer lies is experiencing negative punishment. The grounding (removal of freedom/privileges) follows the undesirable behavior (lying), decreasing the likelihood of future lying.
- A child who is given extra chores for not cleaning their room and subsequently cleans their room is undergoing positive punishment. The extra chores (aversive stimulus) are added following the undesirable behavior (not cleaning), decreasing the likelihood of future neglect.
- A child who is praised for completing homework and subsequently completes homework more promptly is experiencing positive reinforcement. The praise (pleasant stimulus) is added after the desirable behavior (completing homework), increasing the likelihood of timely completion.