What type of consequence is considered positive reinforcement?

Positive reinforcement occurs when a behavior is followed by the delivery of a preferred stimulus, which increases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated in the future. This concept is based on the principles of behavior analysis, particularly in the context of operant conditioning.

When a preferred stimulus is provided after a desired behavior, it serves as a reward, thereby reinforcing that behavior. For instance, if a student receives praise or a favorite toy for completing their homework, the positive nature of the reinforcement (the praise or toy) is what drives the student to continue engaging in the behavior of completing their homework.

In contrast, aversive stimulus delivery or removal does not constitute positive reinforcement because these scenarios involve less desirable outcomes. Aversive stimulus delivery involves introducing an unpleasant outcome, while the removal of a preferred stimulus would mean taking something away that the individual enjoys, both of which do not foster behavior repetition in a positive manner. Therefore, the delivery of a preferred stimulus is crucial to understanding and identifying positive reinforcement.