In operant conditioning, what is the term for a stimulus that increases the probability that a behaviour will be repeated because it is pleasurable?

In operant conditioning, the term that describes a stimulus that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated due to its pleasurable nature is positive reinforcement. This concept originates from the work of B.F. Skinner, who emphasized how rewards can shape behavior.

When an individual engages in a behavior and receives a positive outcome or pleasurable stimulus as a result, they are more inclined to repeat that behavior in the future. This could involve giving a child praise for doing their homework or providing a dog a treat for sitting on command. The key aspect of positive reinforcement is the addition of a desirable stimulus, which reinforces the behavior.

In contrast, negative reinforcement involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus to encourage a behavior, while punishment refers to introducing a negative consequence to decrease a behavior. Extinction, on the other hand, involves the process whereby a behavior decreases when it is no longer reinforced. Therefore, positive reinforcement is specifically focused on the pleasurable aspects of reinforcement that bolster behavior repetition.