Which statement best defines positive reinforcement?

Which statement best defines positive reinforcement?

• A. Extinction
• B. Negative reinforcement
• C. Positive reinforcement
• D. Punishment

Answer: (C)

Positive reinforcement means adding a pleasant consequence after a behavior to increase how often that behavior occurs. In training a military working dog, you reward the dog with something valuable—like a treat, praise, or a quick play session—immediately after the correct action, so the dog makes a clear link between the behavior and the reward. The important part is the addition of a desirable outcome to encourage repetition. This differs from extinction (withholding reinforcement so the behavior fades), negative reinforcement (removing something aversive to encourage the behavior), and punishment (adding an aversive or removing something the dog likes to reduce the behavior).

Positive reinforcement means adding a pleasant consequence after a behavior to increase how often that behavior occurs. In training a military working dog, you reward the dog with something valuable—like a treat, praise, or a quick play session—immediately after the correct action, so the dog makes a clear link between the behavior and the reward. The important part is the addition of a desirable outcome to encourage repetition.

This differs from extinction (withholding reinforcement so the behavior fades), negative reinforcement (removing something aversive to encourage the behavior), and punishment (adding an aversive or removing something the dog likes to reduce the behavior).