By Contrary to common belief, negative reinforcement is distinct from punishment and, when applied correctly, can be very effective in reinforcing desired behaviors.
No child likes to attend extra classes after school. But Joaquin’s parents made it clear to him that if he continues to not pay attention in class, he will continue to attend. One day, the teacher comments to the boy’s father that his son was very attentive and participative. So, the father allows him to skip the extra class that day. This is negative reinforcement.
You may not be aware of it, but you use it to strengthen Joaquin’s good attitude. The purpose of this strategy is to eliminate something undesirable in order to strengthen what you want; in this case, the loss of free time due to having to go to the tutoring class would be the reinforcer, while making an effort in class is what is desired.
Now, we will explore more about this psychological concept and learn examples of its application in different contexts.
What is negative reinforcement?
According to the operant conditioning theory proposed by F. Skinner, the probability of our behaviors increases or decreases depending on the consequences we obtain from them.
Under this framework, the concept of negative reinforcement emerges, which consists of eradicating an unpleasant stimulus to reinforce a desired behavior. This can be directed toward oneself or someone else; it is a useful tool both in relationships and for personal self-regulation.
Main Features
Negative reinforcement is a way of changing behavior. For example, when a teacher states that students who work hard in class will not have extra homework, he or she uses this strategy to encourage students to pay attention and participate more. This method is characterized by the following:
- Generate intrinsic motivation .
- Produce immediate results.
- Involve associative learning.
- Result in relief or a feeling of well-being.
- Strengthen a desired behavior or reduce an undesired one by eliminating a negative stimulus .
Negative reinforcements can be implemented in different contexts: education, parenting, clinical psychology or the workplace.
Is it synonymous with punishment?
A common mistake is to associate this technique with the logic of punishment or retaliation. Punishment involves introducing an uncomfortable stimulus as a consequence of an action, while negative reinforcement works the other way around; the aversive or uncomfortable stimulus is removed after the desired behavior occurs.
Returning to the previous example, the teacher removes extra homework (annoying stimulus) for those who make an effort (desired behavior). In this way, he seeks to ensure that children maintain a high level of commitment to learning .
In negative reinforcement, something bad is not added (punishment), but something bad is removed after doing something good.
How does negative reinforcement differ from positive reinforcement?
Both methods aim to reinforce the desired behavior, but through different mechanisms. Simply put, positive reinforcement adds and negative reinforcement takes away or prevents.
Positive reinforcement involves adding something rewarding, such as praise, a nice meal, a hug, or a gift, to increase the likelihood that the desired behavior will be repeated in the future. Negative reinforcement, on the other hand, is rewarded based on the removal or absence of a negative element.
So, while positive reinforcement adds a reward to strengthen a desired action, negative reinforcement suppresses or avoids something negative in order to achieve the same goal. Although these strategies are often most prominent in contexts involving children, such as the school environment, they work in other settings.
However, it is important to clarify that some authors do not agree with the distinction between the types of reinforcements, since they consider it ambiguous or of no functional importance.
Everyday examples of negative reinforcement
We often apply this method in our lives, even without realizing it. It is a tactic found in parents trying to get their children to clean their rooms, or in bosses who want their employees to arrive on time. Looking at everyday examples in different contexts helps to better grasp the concept.
In the workplace
We already discussed the case of the boss who wants his workers to arrive at the office early. But it can also be a very valuable tool to motivate employees and improve their performance, which is possible in this way:
- When a team reaches monthly goals, the obligation to work on Friday afternoons is lifted.
- If a team manages to maintain a low error rate in production, they are given the opportunity to opt out of additional training.
- An employee who demonstrates a high level of productivity is relieved of the obligation to report daily to the supervisor.
In parenting
During parenting , this strategy is effective in shaping children’s behavior and fostering the desired attitude. For example:
- If your child brushes his teeth without protest before bed, he can avoid the consequence of you getting angry with him.
- When your child apologizes for insulting you, immediately show a calmer facial expression, leaving your angry gestures behind.
- On a trip to the park, if your child follows your directions to keep him or her safe, he or she can avoid the consequence of having to leave early and enjoy his or her time on the playground.
It is crucial that the positive consequence is clear and consistent with what has happened. That is, it is directly related to the behavior you are trying to reinforce. In addition, it is essential not to overuse this tactic, or use it coercively, as this could be counterproductive.
On a personal level
An interesting aspect of this technique is that it can be self-administered, becoming, for example, a powerful tactic for self-control and the development of new healthy habits.
- If I exercise on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, I allow myself to rest on Saturday and Sunday.
- If I complete my work responsibilities during the week, I completely disconnect on the weekend.
- If I get up after the alarm goes off for the first time, I save myself the discomfort of having to hear it several times and the worry of rushing to get to work on time.
As we can see, some of these consequences occur naturally, while others are self-imposed. In any case, the valuable thing is to understand how negative reinforcement works and use it to our advantage to motivate ourselves.
A tool that enhances our goals
In this reading we explore the meaning and applicability of negative reinforcement based on F. Skinner’s operant conditioning theory. This tool has great power in our daily lives.
Understanding how it operates allows us to harness its potential to achieve our goals, improve our relationships and boost our growth, both individually and collectively. So why not use it?