Understanding Negative Reinforcement in Behaviorist Learning Theory: An Example in Social Science

Miss Hutton turned around with a scowl on her face and faced her second-graders. “What do you think you are doing, Johnny? Did I tell you to get out of your seat? Do not let me ever catch you up without permission.” The class sat silently with their eyes wide. When the lunch bell rang an hour later, not one of the children dared to move from their seats. This is an example of which one of the following?

Vicarious learning

This example illustrates the concept of negative reinforcement in the behaviorist theory of learning. Miss Hutton used a scowl and reprimands to discipline Johnny for moving out of his seat without permission. The students witnessed this behavior and did not want to receive similar treatment, so they avoided moving from their seats for the rest of the hour. Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus to increase the likelihood of a desired behavior, in this case, sitting quietly in their seats. However, it should be noted that negative reinforcement is not always the most effective or ethical method of influencing behavior, and positive reinforcement or other approaches may be more appropriate.

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