Topic > Analysis of Skinner's Behaviorist Theory - 725

Reinforcement is something that comes after a response and usually increases the likelihood of it happening again. However, the reinforcers themselves can vary from person to person, and everyone may respond differently to the reinforcers. A relevant reinforcer to consider would be negative punishment. This type of reinforcement involves the elimination of a pleasant stimulus to decrease a particular behavior; for example, getting a speeding ticket. However, we must take into account that punishment reinforcers only change behavior temporarily, as opposed to reward reinforcers which are more pleasant. Ultimately, finding a reinforcer that works best for you may require trial and error, and what may reinforce my behavior may not reinforce yours. Skinner would probably say that my behavior is reinforced by negative punishment. And maybe that's why I'm likely to slow down when I see a police car, before actually getting a speeding ticket. For example, I have never been given a speeding ticket, but I have actually been stopped by a police officer for speeding before. And even though he didn't give me a speeding ticket at the time, he told me to drive slower or next time I would get a $100 speeding ticket. As a broke college student, this was the perfect reinforcement to temporarily stop me from speeding for the police