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 Skinner’s ‘Reinforcement Theory of
Marzieh Gordan (Corresponding author)
Motivation’
School of Language Studies and Linguistics, University Kebangsaan Malaysia
E-mail: marzieh.gordan@yahoo.com
Isai amutan krishanan
Faculty of languages and linguistics, University of Malaya
E-mail: Kisai27@yahoo.com.my
Abstract
B. F. Skinner in his book Beyond Freedom and Dignity said that thinkers should make fundamental changes in human
behavior, and they couldn't bring these changes only with the help of physics or biology. He believes that we only acquire
the technology of behavior. Centuries ago people were seeing themselves as a person who could feel himself better any
other creatures in the world. But in today‟s world he is not able to understand himself. Although science have emerged
vastly; but we are not able to compare anything like a science of human behavior with any other science in the world. As
behaviorist B.F. Skinner brought up the Reinforcement Theory. The Reinforcement Theory is one of the oldest theories of
motivation which describe behavior and how we act. This theory can called as „behaviorism‟ or „operant conditioning‟ that
is taught in the today‟s world of psychology. In this article we are looking at B. F. Skinner Reinforcement Theory of
Motivation and we go through all details in this theory. This is a review paper based on the theorist Skinner.

Keywords:Technology of Behavior, Reinforcement theory, motivation, psychology, operant conditioning.

Journal: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN EDUCATION METHODOLOGY

Vol 5, No. 3
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680 | P a g e March 30,
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2. Method
 ISSN 2278-7690

About the Reinforcement Theory :

Reinforcement theory describes specifically how people learn behavior and learn how to act. Also different instructors who
attempt to bring motivation for the students should make sure that these teachers will not give reward to all students at the
same time. They should say to the students who are not acting well in the course of learning and they are not leading a
correct way in this process. Teachers basically should bring awareness to the students and teach them in what they are
able to gain positive reinforcement.
Reinforcement , “is a term in operant conditioning and Behavior analysis for process of increasing the rate or probability of a
behavior in the form of response by delivery either immediately or shortly after performing the behavior”.
Reinforcement theory of motivation highlights the state of mind of each person, that is; his emotion and feeling.
Reinforcement theory concentrates generally on changes which occur in each person when he or she goes through in the
course of some actions or acting some behavior. So, based on Skinner: “the external environment of the organization
must be designed effectively and positively so as to motivate the employee”. Reinforcement theory of Motivation is a
powerful way to control the process of action and behavior in each person. This theory doesn‟t look at the reason for
people‟s behavior.
Is the short reinforcement theory of motivation looks at the state of mind of each person. Reinforcement theory of motivation
concentrates on:
An individual Action

Reinforcement theory applied in different studies such as: training of animals, growing up the child, also to motivate
employees. This theory highlights some features which help the person to shape his own behavior and action. In short,
reinforcement theory states that stimuli can contribute for shaping behaviors. Reinforcement theory includes four
approaches, these approaches are:
 Positive
 reinforcement
 Negative
 reinforcement
Extinction
3. Analysis
Positive reinforcement:
Is a student works well, do so much hard work and do some enthusiasm in his studies the teachers will give a reward to
encourage and motivate him . This also can apply to employee who is leading his work well. As an example, In the class
the student brings a good mark so he or she will be awarded by the teacher. In this way they can motivate other students
and have some benefits for the whole class. So this positive reinforcement means that if someone gives a positive
response to something or do some positive action he or she should be rewarded positively. As an example if the teacher
praise the students for entering the class on time this one will have a positive effect on all the students which are sitting in
the class and witnessing this behavior. Also means to adding of repetitive stimulus to increase a certain behavior or
response . Another example if the boss gives reward for the employee who is making progress and acting well in the
workplace so if he is faced with better performance this reward will be increase more and more so this is a positive
reinforcement for each employee in the workplace. There are different types of positive reinforcement . These are such as
:
 ATTENTION : a teacher can show his or her attention by:
• A Smile
• Pat on back standing
• To sit near the student
• Consider positive Points for the student
• To spend some activities with the student
• To give student different choices
• Don‟t criticize the student
• To concentrate on their positive behavior

Negative reinforcement:
As I explained how a positive reinforcement can happen in the context of class at a workplace a negative reinforcement
also can happen in contrast. Both positive and negative reinforcement is able to increase an accepted and positive
behavior. For example when a student comes late in class and after that the instructor won't let him in the classroom , in

682 | P a g e March 30, 2014

 ISSN 2278-7690
this case it is a negative reinforcement for other students. Negative reinforcement sometimes, wrongly considered as a
punishment. Punishment is: “ the application of aversive stimuli in order to reduce the chance of being a behavior
repeated”. Negative reinforcement is: “ the removal of aversive stimuli in order to increase the probability of being a
behavior repeated”.
Negative reinforcement is able to have positive effects on the behavior of others, like for creating a classroom that is safe
for all the learners.

Punishment reinforcement
Punishment happens when an individual brings some harm to the organization and he or she did something wrong so in
this case the boss or the teachers can punish the student or the employee. As an example, when in a company an
employee's cause some loss for the company the company can reduce his salary or reduce his wages. Because he has
made a big mistake and after that no one can make it right. The word punishment is, “usually confined to contingencies
intentionally arranged by other people, who arrange them because the results are reinforcing to them. A person resorts to
punishment when he criticizes, ridicules, Blames, or physically attacks another in order to suppress unwanted behavior”
(Skinner 1972).
In short, Punishment is: “ designed to remove awkward, dangerous, or otherwise unwanted behavior from a repertoire on
the assumption that a person who has been punishes is less likely to behave in the same way again”.
It means to apply awkward outcomes to show awkward behaviors. As an example for a student who is breaking the rules of
the school punishment can apply to him.
Negative reinforcement and punishment most of the times are confusing for the reader. In this way I have brought some
differences which differentiate negative reinforcement from punishment . Basically these two concepts are confusing .
The first difference between punishment and negative reinforcement is that: “Punishment reduces the probability of an
undesired behavior”. And “Negative reinforcement increase the probability of a desired behavior”.
The second one is that: “ Punishment involves administering a negative consequence when an undesired behavior occurs”.
And “Negative reinforcement entails removing a negative consequence when a desired behavior occurs”.

Negative Punishment:
“Negative punishment involves removing a pleasant stimulus other than the one maintaining the behavior in order
todecrease the frequency of the behavior.” (M. Sundel & S. Sundel, 2005). I want to bring an example regarding thi s
negative punishment I can say it can an employee in the workplace who is talking about unrelated matters to the other
employees in the workplace and distracting them from working properly. So in this context other employees will ask him
politely which be aware of his behavior. So the manager tells him that because he is distracting others and he continues
with his behavior his wages will be reduces. Next way of negative punishment is that the manager order to remove his
place and his desk and take it to some place with no other employee in an isolated room. So this reducing his wages and
moving his desk to another place are some examples which considers and negative punishment. (M. Sundel & S. Sundel,
2005). Based on D. Hockenbury and S. Hockenbury (2010), negative punishment can also be named as „punishment of
removal‟.
In negative punishment the person who tries to punish should consider some point:

Acting rapidly:
According to Robins, Odendal and Roodt, acting rapidly means: “The closer the disciplinary action is to the actual offense,
the more likely it is that the employee will associate the punishment with the offense or unwanted behavior and not the
dispenser of the punishment” (Robbins, Odendaal, & Roodt, 2009).

Being regular:
Based on Robbins the punishment should be consistent from the manager side of the employee and in each individual as
well. For example in the context of classroom if each student is coming late for the class he or she should be punished
each time which she is coming late for the class and this punishment should happen regularly until she quit this awkward
behavior. N any case if the teacher cannot punish the student consistently, his rules won't have the same effect and impact
and the student may wonder or question the way the teachers punish him . (Robbins et al., 2009).
Based on Baumeister, Bratslavsky, Finkenauer and Vohs (2001), “because bad interactions are more powerful
emotionally than good interactions, it is important to balance the good and bad by more frequently using positive
reinforcement rather than punishment. A good ratio is five enjoyable interactions to one disagreeable interaction”
(Baumeister et al., 2001). The teacher should punish in private and admire in public. Private punishments are much better
than public punishments. In public punishments the student may be embarrassed and it can cause negative impacts on the
student (Hellriegel & Slocum Jr., 2007).

Negative Punishments:
It is very important to one who want to punish a person. A punishment should be effective. So I have listed four dangers of
punishment:

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