What is the difference between positive and negative reinforcement?

Positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement are both key concepts in the field of operant conditioning, which was developed by B.F. Skinner. Positive reinforcement involves the addition of a pleasant stimulus after a desired behavior is exhibited, increasing the likelihood that the behavior will occur again in the future. For example, if a child receives praise (a pleasant stimulus) for cleaning their room, they are more likely to clean their room again in the future.

On the other hand, negative reinforcement involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus when a desired behavior occurs, also increasing the likelihood of that behavior being repeated. For instance, if a student does their homework and as a result, they are allowed to skip chores, the removal of that unpleasant chore serves as negative reinforcement that may encourage them to continue doing their homework.

The key distinction between the two lies in how they influence behavior: positive reinforcement adds a pleasant consequence, while negative reinforcement removes an aversive one. Both processes serve to strengthen behavior, but they do so through different mechanisms.