positive reinforcement

English edit

Noun edit

positive reinforcement (uncountable)

  1. The giving of encouragement to a person who exhibits a particular behaviour with the result that such behaviour is repeated.
    Coordinate term: negative reinforcement
    The mother did not realize that giving her son candy every time he cried was positive reinforcement.
    • 2015, Ilona Rodan, Sarah Heath, editors, Feline Behavioral Health and Welfare, Elsevier Health Sciences, →ISBN, page 46:
      With positive reinforcement, by adding something the animal desires, the likelihood that the behavior will occur again is increased.

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