LIST OF EXAMPLES OF NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT AND OF PARTIAL
SCHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENT TAKEN FROM VARIOUS TEXTBOOKS
(These were taken out of textbooks by Miguel Roig and his collegue Carolyn Vigorito
and posted on the web by Jeff Bartel from Shippensburg University, Pennsylvania,
modified from http://www.ship.edu/~jsbart/psy101/learning_supplement.html.)
A lot of students are confused about negative reinforcement. What's the difference
between that and punishment? Perhaps some examples of negative reinforcement
would be helpful (remember, it's "reinforcement" so the behavior increases, and
because it's "negative," the reinforcer is removed after the response).
NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT
1. Loud buzz in some cars when ignition key is turned on; driver must put on
safety belt in order to eliminate irritating buzz (Gredler, 1992) ๏ the buzz is a
negative reinforcer for putting on the seat-belt.
2. Feigning a stomach ache in order to avoiding school (Gredler, 1992) ๏ school
as negative reinforcer for feigning stomach aches.
3. Rushing home in the winter to get out of the cold (Weiten, 1992). Fanning
oneself to escape from the heat (Zimbardo, 1992). ๏ Cold weather as negative
reinforcer for walking home (the colder the faster you walk..), and heat sa
negative reinforcer for fanning.
4. Cleaning the house to get rid of disgusting mess (Weiten, 1992), or cleaning
the house to get rid of your mother's nagging (Bootzin, et al , 1991; Leahy &
Harris, 1989). ๏ Nagging/Mess as negative reinforcer to cleaning.
5. Studying for an exam to avoid getting a poor grade (Bootzin & Acocella,
1980). ๏ Low grade as a negative reinforcer for studying (but.. a high grade is
a positive reinforcer for studying at the same time)
6. Taking aspirin to relieve headache (Bootzin & Acocella, 1980; Buskist &
Gerbing, 1990; Gerow, 1992). ๏ Good example: headache as negative
reinforcer to taking medication.
7. Removing a stone that has lodged inside the shoe while walking (Pettijohn,
1992; Roediger, Capaldi, Paris, & Polivy, 1991). ๏ Pain as negative reinforcer
to stopping to take off your shoe..
8. Prisoners try to break out of jail to escape the aversiveness of being locked up
(Domjan & Burkhard, 1993).
9. Leaving a movie theater if the movie is bad (Domjan & Burkhard, 1993).
10. Running from the building when the fire alarm sounds (Domjan & Burkhard,
1993). ๏ Fire alarm as negative reinforcer for leaving building.
11. Smoking in order to reduce a negative emotional state (Baron, 1992). ๏
Negative emotional state as negative reinforcer to smoking.
12. Turning down the volume of a very loud radio (Roediger, Capaldi, Paris, &
Polivy, 1991).
13. Changes in sexual behavior (e.g., wearing condoms) to avoid AIDS (Gerow,
1992).
