Correct Answer - Option 3 : Negative reinforcement strengthens a response whereas punishment weakens a response
Conditioning is the process of modifying one’s behaviour with the help of some preparation or training. Behaviourism theory is an idea which states that learning takes place owing to conditioning. John Watson is called the father of behaviourism. There are two types of conditioning: Operant and Classical.
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Operant: This method of conditioning works on reinforcement and punishment. If one activity occurs more often than another, it can be used to reinforce the activity that occurs less often, this principle is known as Skinner's Principle. Reinforcement promotes the happening of behaviour in the future while punishment is a term that implies the reduction of happening of behaviour in the future. It has positive (to add) and negative (to take away) factors:
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Positive Reinforcement: To add an action to repeat the outcome. For example: Offering rewards (action added) when children give correct answers. It should be noted that token money can also be used for this purpose in which tokens (fake currency, buttons, stickers) can be given and later exchanged with rewards.
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Negative Reinforcement: To take away an action to repeat an outcome. For example, Restrictions are removed (action is taken away) from prisoners when they behave well.
- Positive Punishment: To add an action to reduce an outcome. For example, Kids are sent to outside the class (action added) so that they don’t make noise. (action reduced).
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Negative Punishment: To take away an action to prevent something from happening. For example, The government asks citizens to stay at home (the government is taking away the freedom to go out) to prevent a pandemic.
Hence, we conclude that Negative reinforcement strengthens a response whereas punishment weakens a response.
