Which consequence increases the likelihood of a behaviour by presenting a pleasant outcome?

Which consequence increases the likelihood of a behaviour by presenting a pleasant outcome?

• A. Positive reinforcement.
• B. Negative reinforcement.
• C. Positive punishment.
• D. Negative punishment.

Answer: (A)

Presents a pleasant outcome after a behavior to increase how often that behavior occurs is positive reinforcement. In operant conditioning, adding a desirable stimulus—like praise, a treat, or a reward—after a correct or desired action makes that action more likely to be repeated. For example, giving a puppy a treat when it sits or praising a student after they answer correctly strengthens the sit or the answering behavior because the pleasant outcome reinforces it. The other options involve different processes. Positive punishment adds an unpleasant consequence to reduce a behavior; negative reinforcement removes an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior; and negative punishment takes away a pleasant stimulus to reduce a behavior. The question specifically mentions presenting a pleasant outcome to increase the likelihood of the behavior, which is exactly positive reinforcement.

Presents a pleasant outcome after a behavior to increase how often that behavior occurs is positive reinforcement. In operant conditioning, adding a desirable stimulus—like praise, a treat, or a reward—after a correct or desired action makes that action more likely to be repeated. For example, giving a puppy a treat when it sits or praising a student after they answer correctly strengthens the sit or the answering behavior because the pleasant outcome reinforces it.

The other options involve different processes. Positive punishment adds an unpleasant consequence to reduce a behavior; negative reinforcement removes an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior; and negative punishment takes away a pleasant stimulus to reduce a behavior. The question specifically mentions presenting a pleasant outcome to increase the likelihood of the behavior, which is exactly positive reinforcement.