The Difference Between Things That Are Different: Positive and Negative Reinforcement

Pre-requisite knowledge for this presentation:

Know what I mean by positive and negative reinforcement

Be able to listen attentively while I speak extremely fast

This is short

L’histoire

“Only a change can function as a consequence for behavior, so we do not need

static pre or post change conditions.”

Jack Michael

1975

A hypothesized defenseWe like it because…1. There is something different in an important

way between the effects that positive reinforce and negative reinforcement have on behavior

2. There are different physiological processes3. We can warn against the effects of negative reinforcement

3 decades later….Baron, and Galizio (2005)

Positive and Negative is confusing, and often difficult to discern

Temporal relationsStimulus ON when bx occurs, OFF after bx occurs =

SR-

Stimulus OFF when bx occurs, ON after bx occurs = SR+

What about ambiguous stuff?Heat in a cold environmentCold in a hot environment Food deprivationThe feeling of reinforcement

FOR!!!AGAINST!!!

• Chase, P. N. (2006). Teaching the distinction between positive and negative reinforcement. The Behavior Analyst, 29, 113-115.

• Iwata, B. A. (2006). On the distinction between positive and negative reinforcement. The Behavior Analyst, 29, 121- 123.

• Lattal, K. A., & Lattal, A. D. (2006). And yet…:Further comments on distinguishing positive and negative reinforcement. The Behavior Analyst, 29, 129-134.

• Marr, M. J. (2006). Through the looking glass: Symmetry in behavioral principles? The Behavior Analyst, 29, 125-128.

• Michael, J. (2006). Comment on Baron and Galizio (2005). The Behavior Analyst, 29, 117-119.

Sidman’s ResponseConfusing? Can beExclusively one way or the other every

time? No not so muchMay a new term provided useful clarity?

ProbablyShould we throw out the distinction? Nope

Defense against presumed defenseFor the distinction1. I agree the functions are the same2. I would be surprised if my basal ganglia

made specific distinctions between theoretical processes

3. I don’t need the term negative reinforcement to warn against effects

These are my confessions…These processes, like most

things, are not dichotomous It confuses laymenTheoretically, it doesn’t make

extensive contributions to a philosophy of behavior

Dan’s cookie exampleIf you give a child a cookie…Terminate a lack of nothing....? What?

?

Is it practical to say:An empty bladder was added after

urinating…Terminated a lack of praise…Added not being pulled over…Terminated a period of not having my back

scratched…

Additional Subtraction soupSo…. We get to reinforce by adding

nothing, or terminating nothing…?

If that is the case do I get to reinforce not a behavior? Because I would LOVE to be able to do that

Iwata’s examplesAction (delivery) is different than a change

in environmental conditionsYou don’t need deprivation for conditioned

reinforcers to functionAbolishing and Establishing operations

“As long as the conditions labeled as positive or negative

reinforcement (or as EOs or AOs) are described carefully, I do not see much harm in maintaining

the distinction”~Brian Iwata

Here’s the point(s)1. The distinction does not weaken our

understanding of behavior2. Word games are not convincing enough3. I know what your saying when you say

positive and negative reinforcement4. There is clinical utility

Directions for future researchN/A

Okay, I win… now what?No more need to argueLet us use what we know to make applied

decisions“There is something that might be gained

by identifying the nature of the stimulus change that serves as reinforcement”