Question

Imagine that you are a parent, a teacher, or a supervisor in a workplace. Give specific examples of how you might use a) positive reinforcement b) negative reinforcement c) positive punishment d) negative punishment to bring about desirable changes in the behavior of a child, stiudent or a subordinate worker

Answer 1

Examples of each are described as under, as a supervisor in a workplace.

1. Positive reinforcement: Offering an added monetary incentive everytime the worker surpasses a specific target (such as selling x units of a product).

2. Negative reinforcement: Increasing work time hours till the worker achieves a specific target (such as preparing a quality report).

3. Positive punishment: Reprimanding the worker in front of his colleagues for making an error (such as in a report).

4. Negative punishment: Reducing lunch time hours when the worker reports late to office.