What is an example of positive reinforcement?

Positive reinforcement involves the introduction of a pleasant stimulus in response to a desired behavior, which increases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated in the future. In this case, providing a student with a sticker for correct answers serves as a reward that acknowledges their achievement. This introduction of a desirable item serves to encourage the student to continue performing well and answering correctly in the future.

The other options represent different forms of behavioral modification. Taking away recess time for misbehavior constitutes a form of negative punishment, where a positive experience is removed to reduce undesirable behavior. Similarly, informing a student that they will lose privileges if they don’t study is also a form of negative reinforcement, where the goal is to encourage studying by presenting the potential removal of an enjoyable aspect (privileges) as a consequence. Yelling at players for poor performance serves as a form of aversive feedback, which typically may lead to anxiety or discourage performance improvement rather than reinforcing positive behavior. Therefore, the effectiveness of positive reinforcement lies in its ability to add a rewarding element that promotes the repetition of good behavior.