| When Ms.Kitty prevents Nicky from playing sports, that can be described as punishment. Many teachers can punish students to prevent them from doing certain things by giving them detention or suspension slips. To prevent Nicky from failing, she punished him. Because Nicky wants to play sports, he does his work and increases his grades by studying. That is escape conditioning or when Nicky studieds to escape the situation he is in. (Not being able to play sports) After Ms. Kitty punishes him, she reinforces him for his good behavior so that he can continue it. When she allows Nicky to play sports from time to time, that is positive reinforcement on a variable-interval schedule because whenever she feels that he deserves reinforcement, she will give it. She does not give it on a regularly basis, just when she wants to. This is called operant conditioning, when he learns from the consequences of his behavior. |
