Infographic 5.4: Learning: Punishment and Reinforcement

The subtitles read, “Behavior: Driving Fast—Do you want to increase this behavior?” At the upper left is a stop light, with the green light active. The caption reads, “YES! It’s NASCAR! You have to drive faster than anyone else to win. We will apply a reinforcer to increase the behavior.” At the upper right is a stop light, with the red light active. The caption reads, “NO! We’re not at the racetrack! Speeding is dangerous and against the law. We will apply a punishment to decrease the behavior.” The drawing at the left below the “Yes” traffic light shows a sign labeled “Reinforcement” with a car on a track that splits into two arms. The left is labeled “Negative Reinforcement,” and shows a graphic of a wrench with an X over the graphic. The caption reads, “You don’t like working in the family auto-body shop. Your family says you can work fewer hours if you win the next race. Taking away unwanted work increases the speeding behavior.” The right is labeled “Positive Reinforcement” and shows a graphic of a trophy and paper money. The caption reads, “You win a trophy and a cash prize for going fast at the race. Adding desirable rewards increases your speeding behavior.” The drawing at the right below the “No” traffic light shows a sign labeled “Punishment” with a car on a track that splits into two arms. The left is labeled “Negative Punishment,” and shows a graphic of a driver’s license with the text “Suspended” over the graphic. The caption reads, “The police officer confiscates your license. Taking away something desirable decreases your speeding behavior.” The right is labeled “Positive Punishment,” and shows a police officer writing on a pad. The caption reads, “The police officer gives you a citation. Adding something undesirable decreases your speeding behavior.”