Chapter 5, Problem 10TY

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

Reinforcement is any event or stimulus that when following a response, causes that response to occur again and again. In other words, reinforcement is a pleasant consequence of an action that organisms wanted to be repeated again. Reinforcement can be of two types of positive and negative reinforcement.

Answer to Problem 10TY

Correct answer:

Positive reinforcement results in an increase in the target behavior and negative reinforcement results in an increase in the target behavior. Therefore, option b. is correct.

Option b. is given as “an increase; an increase”.

Explanation of Solution

Reasons for the correct statement:

Positive reinforcement is an event or stimulus that following a response with pleasant consequences and that will lead to an increase in the probability of that response being repeated. Whereas, following a response with the removal or escape from something unpleasant will also increase the possibility of the response being repeated.

Hence, option b. is correct.

Reasons for the incorrect statements:

Option a. is given as “an increase; a decrease”.

Positive reinforcement results in an increase in the target behavior, and negative reinforcement results also in an increase in the target behavior. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Option c. is given as “a decrease; a decrease”.

Positive reinforcement results in an increase in the target behavior, and negative reinforcement results also in an increase in the target behavior. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Option d. is given as “a decrease; an increase”.

Positive reinforcement results in an increase in the target behavior, and negative reinforcement results also in an increase in the target behavior. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Hence, options a., c., and d. are incorrect.

Conclusion

Positive reinforcement results in an increase in the target behavior, and negative reinforcement results also in an increase in the target behavior.