What does positive reinforcement achieve?

Positive reinforcement is a key concept in behavior analysis that involves the presentation of a stimulus following a desired behavior, which in turn increases the likelihood of that behavior occurring again in the future. By adding a pleasant or rewarding stimulus after the desired behavior, it reinforces that behavior, making the individual more likely to engage in it again.

This principle relies on the understanding that behaviors followed by positive outcomes are generally strengthened. For instance, if a child receives praise or a small reward for completing their homework, they may be more inclined to do their homework in the future due to the positive reinforcement they experienced. This demonstrates how positive reinforcement can effectively promote desirable behaviors in various contexts, particularly in educational and therapeutic settings.

The other options misinterpret the role of positive reinforcement. While decreasing undesirable behaviors or neutralizing them may be important in behavior modification, these are not the direct goals or outcomes associated with positive reinforcement. Additionally, while conditioning a primary reinforcer is related to reinforcement strategies, it does not specifically address the immediate effect of positive reinforcement in the context described.