The last form of reinforcement, extinction, occurs when a reaction to a certain behavior is denied and removed, and resultantly the unwanted behavior is decreased, if not terminated. An example of extinction reinforcement includes a child who hides behind furniture in an attempt to gain attention - which is a response that has previously been positively reinforced. When the child's attention-seeking actions are subsequently ignored, the behavior decreases, if not stops.
Research indicates positive reinforcement is the most powerful of the reinforcement paradigms (Heffner). Other methods of operant conditioning, such as punishment, can potentially summon additional negative responses such as anger and resentment. In situations of positive reinforcement, both parties involved focus on the positive aspects of the experience, which adds to the fulfillment of the desired behavior.
Examples of reinforcement principles from my own life were displayed when I played on a youth soccer team. This was a city soccer team, run by volunteer parents, and was free to join. We had two practices a week, but our coach had a hard time with players showing up. This is when he enforced the "no practice, no game" rule. This was the rule that meant if you missed one practice, that player could not play in one-half of the game. If the player missed both practices, they could not play at all during the weekly game. I now understand this "no practice,...
The players understood the foreseen consequence of missing the soccer game, and therefore increased the desired behavior - attending practice in order to play in the game. This concept of negative reinforcement helped me to establish the realization that actions, and inactions, can have their consequences.
Another method of reinforcement experienced on my youth soccer team was positive reinforcement. The coach gave a variety of compliments such as "good work" and "you're doing great." However he also had another means which elicited a more intense, positive response. At the end of practice the coach would give a wrist-sweatband to the player who worked the hardest. To a group of ten-year-olds, the sweatbands were a high award that could be worn during the game to prove how hard you had worked. They were not handed out every practice, only when someone was worthy, making the sweatband all the more meaningful. This encouraged the players to show up to practice, work hard, and make the most of it. The reward was as simple as a glorified cotton bracelet, but it was an effective award nonetheless. This speaks to the power of positive reinforcement and how praise, and even a simple reward, can shape behavior.
Work Cited
Heffner, C. "Psychology 101." AllPsych Online the Virtual Psychology Classroom. Heffner Media Group, Inc., 01 Apr 2001. Web. 7 Apr 2011.
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