Reinforcement

From Drug Rehab Wiki

Reinforcement is a term invented by psychologist B.F. Skinner to partially explain why people repeat a behavior. In his system called "behavioral psychology," a behavior can be positively or negatively reinforced or strengthened by certain factors.

Negative reinforcements are factors that make a person repeat a behavior because if he does not, there will be unpleasant consequences. For example, being cold is a negative reinforcement for not wearing a coat. It is something that makes you wear a coat. Feeling comfortable by wearing a coat is a positive reinforcement for that behavior.

Negative and positive punishments also strengthen behaviors, but they are not the same as reinforcements. A negative punishment for not wearing a coat would be being yelled at by your mother. A positive punishment for wearing a coat would be if your mother did not allow you to outside without one.

The concept of reinforcement is sometimes used in substance abuse treatment. A therapist may try to discover what positive and negative reinforcements in a patient's life are perpetuating his use of drugs or alcohol.