What Is Positive Reinforcement? And Is It the Same as Bribery?

Positive reinforcement is one of the most commonly used - and commonly misunderstood - ideas in behaviour analysis. Parents sometimes worry that reinforcement is the same as bribing a child. They are not the same thing.

What does positive reinforcement mean?

In behaviour analysis, positive reinforcement occurs when something is added after a behaviour and that behaviour becomes more likely in the future. The word 'positive' means something is added; it does not mean 'good'. Reinforcement is defined by its effect on behaviour, not by what we intended.

For example, a child independently asks for help. The adult responds warmly and helps them. If asking for help becomes more likely in similar situations, that response has functioned as reinforcement.

Why is this different from bribery?

Bribery usually refers to offering something in the middle of a difficult situation to persuade someone to stop or comply. Planned reinforcement is different: adults decide in advance which meaningful skill they want to strengthen and make sure success is followed by something the child values.

The long-term goal is usually to build natural reinforcement into the skill. Asking for a break should work because the child actually gets a break. Communicating 'help' should work because someone responds. Completing a routine may lead to access to the next part of the day.

Reinforcement is not one specific item

·       specific praise or positive attention;

·       access to a preferred activity;

·       a short break;

·       choice or control over what happens next;

·       the natural outcome of the skill itself.

What makes reinforcement effective?

It needs to matter to the individual child, happen closely enough to the behaviour for the connection to be clear, and be used consistently enough for learning to occur. Preferences also change, so practitioners should not assume the same reinforcer works forever.

Positive reinforcement is not about controlling children with rewards. Used well, it is a way of arranging learning so useful skills are worth using - especially skills such as communication, independence, coping and participation.

Bloom Child Therapy provides Positive Behaviour Support for children and families in Adelaide. Contact Bloom to discuss whether behaviour support may be appropriate for your child.