In operant conditioning, adding a desirable stimulus after a response strengthens the behavior. This is known as which concept?

In operant conditioning, adding a desirable stimulus after a response strengthens the behavior. This is known as which concept?

• A. Negative reinforcement
• B. Positive reinforcement
• C. Punishment
• D. Extinction

Answer: (B)

Positive reinforcement is the idea at work here: when you add something desirable after a behavior, that behavior is more likely to happen again. In operant conditioning, reinforcement strengthens behavior, and the key is what happens after the action. Here, a positive outcome is introduced—a treat, praise, or another liked consequence—so the response becomes more probable in the future. Negative reinforcement would also strengthen behavior, but it relies on removing something unpleasant after the behavior, not adding something pleasant. Punishment aims to reduce behavior by delivering an aversive consequence or removing a pleasant thing. Extinction happens when reinforcement stops, and the behavior gradually fades. So the scenario fits positive reinforcement because it involves adding a desirable stimulus to reinforce the action.

Positive reinforcement is the idea at work here: when you add something desirable after a behavior, that behavior is more likely to happen again. In operant conditioning, reinforcement strengthens behavior, and the key is what happens after the action. Here, a positive outcome is introduced—a treat, praise, or another liked consequence—so the response becomes more probable in the future.

Negative reinforcement would also strengthen behavior, but it relies on removing something unpleasant after the behavior, not adding something pleasant. Punishment aims to reduce behavior by delivering an aversive consequence or removing a pleasant thing. Extinction happens when reinforcement stops, and the behavior gradually fades. So the scenario fits positive reinforcement because it involves adding a desirable stimulus to reinforce the action.