Arent negative reinforcement and punishment the same thing?
NO! This is one of the hardest ideas to master in the course in part because the jargon gets in the way. Even Skinner apologized for producing terms that were hard to learn. Punishment occurs when an aversive (negative) outcome follows a behavior. In most cases, the behavior is unlikely to occur again. Negative reinforcement also involves something negative which is where the confusion comes in. But in negative reinforcement, a behavior is strengthened by avoiding some unpleasant outcome. It helps to remember reinforcement predicts a behavior will get stronger. Positive reinforcement predicts a behavior will get stronger if it is followed by a positive outcome. Negative reinforcement predicts a behavior will get stronger to avoid something unpleasant. You probably put on your seat belt in part to avoid the annoying buzzer the car makers have installed in your car as a reminder. If you put on your seatbelt before the buzzer starts, the act of putting on a seat belt is negatively reinfor
