page always being updated #todo ### Reinforcement is confusing! People find the whole concept of reinforcement theory very confusing leading to ingrained forms of rigid attitudes such as phrases such as: - [[Ignore the bad behaviour - reinforce the good]] - that's giving in - you are rewarding bad behaviour - it's attention seeking - just ignore it - ignore it and it will go away Interestingly these are all phrases I discuss in [[reinforcement theory]]. Here we are discussing **negative reinforcement** which is not to be confused with punishment. ### Negative Reinforcement This is actually a great way to get people to have some sort of shake through their rigid mind. In training I may say "who would like to be negatively reinforced?". Almost no one will put their hand up, physically or indeed [[Mentimeter|digital hand up]], for that unless they have had some behavioural training. Yet the crux of this issue is that Negative Reinforcement is the removal of an aversive stimulus, which could also mean a behaviour to avoid an unwanted stimulus. Negative reinforcement is a method of encouraging certain behaviours by removing or avoiding a negative outcome or stimuli[1](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/negative-reinforcement)[2](https://www.simplypsychology.org/negative-reinforcement.html)[3](https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-negative-reinforcement-2795410)[4](https://www.splashlearn.com/blog/how-is-negative-reinforcement-for-kids-a-great-strategy-when-used-right/)[5](https://www.healthline.com/health/negative-reinforcement). It is part of operant conditioning, which is a theory of learning that centers on the idea of reinforcement [1](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/negative-reinforcement). Negative reinforcement strengthens a response or behaviour by stopping, removing, or avoiding a negative outcome or aversive stimulus [3](https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-negative-reinforcement-2795410). In negative reinforcement, an undesirable stimulus is removed to increase a behaviour [2](https://www.simplypsychology.org/negative-reinforcement.html). The word “negative” in the phrase “negative reinforcement” means simply to “take something away” [2](https://www.simplypsychology.org/negative-reinforcement.html)[4](https://www.splashlearn.com/blog/how-is-negative-reinforcement-for-kids-a-great-strategy-when-used-right/)[5](https://www.healthline.com/health/negative-reinforcement). Negative reinforcement is not intended to reinforce negative or undesirable behaviour [2](https://www.simplypsychology.org/negative-reinforcement.html).Examples of negative reinforcement include giving a pass to the car behind to avoid its honking, getting up from the bed to avoid the noisy alarm, and taking an antacid before having a spicy meal [4](https://www.splashlearn.com/blog/how-is-negative-reinforcement-for-kids-a-great-strategy-when-used-right/). Negative reinforcement can be used to teach specific behaviours and is often used to help children learn good patterns of behaviour [1](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/negative-reinforcement)[5](https://www.healthline.com/health/negative-reinforcement). However, scholars generally agree that it must be used sparingly and is best for reinforcing short-term behaviours [2](https://www.simplypsychology.org/negative-reinforcement.html). For negative reinforcement to work, whatever is taken away must be taken away immediately after the behaviour in question [5](https://www.healthline.com/health/negative-reinforcement). ### examples of negative reinforcement in everyday life Negative reinforcement is a concept of operant conditioning that can be seen in everyday life. Negative reinforcement is about encouragement, and it involves removing a negative or unpleasant stimulus from a situation in response to someone's action[1](https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-negative-reinforcement.html). Here are some examples of negative reinforcement in everyday life: - Taking a shower on a hot day to remove the bad smell and yucky feeling [2](https://www.parentingforbrain.com/negative-reinforcement/). - Wearing a coat on a chilly day to avoid catching a cold [2](https://www.parentingforbrain.com/negative-reinforcement/). - Putting away toys after playing with them to prevent losing them [2](https://www.parentingforbrain.com/negative-reinforcement/). - Blasting the car horn to remove a car in front [3](https://www.abatherapistjobs.com/behavioural-principles/examples-of-negative-reinforcement). - Drying wet hands with a towel to remove water [3](https://www.abatherapistjobs.com/behavioural-principles/examples-of-negative-reinforcement). - Allowing a child to skip homework if they study hard and accomplish a lot in class [1](https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-negative-reinforcement.html). - Reducing homework if students behave in class or do well on an exam [4](https://helpfulprofessor.com/negative-reinforcement-examples/). - Allowing a later bedtime to stop a child's tantrum [2](https://www.parentingforbrain.com/negative-reinforcement/). - Removing vegetables from the table to stop a child's crying [4](https://helpfulprofessor.com/negative-reinforcement-examples/). - Damaging a pair of trousers so you don't have to wear them [3](https://www.abatherapistjobs.com/behavioural-principles/examples-of-negative-reinforcement). Negative reinforcement can be used to motivate and change behaviour, but it must be used sparingly and is best for reinforcing short-term behaviours [1](https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-negative-reinforcement.html)[3](https://www.abatherapistjobs.com/behavioural-principles/examples-of-negative-reinforcement). [1yourdictionary](https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-negative-reinforcement.html) [2parentingforbrain](https://www.parentingforbrain.com/negative-reinforcement/) [3abatherapistjobs](https://www.abatherapistjobs.com/behavioural-principles/examples-of-negative-reinforcement) [4helpfulprofessor](https://helpfulprofessor.com/negative-reinforcement-examples/) #todo Dentists and Nurses. Using big button to gain banter?