Natural Reinforcer: Definition, History and Characteristics
Introduction
Reinforcement is a key concept in the field of psychology and behavior. A reinforcer is a stimulus, event, or consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated in the future. Natural reinforcers are those that occur in a natural environment, rather than those that are introduced by an experimenter or researcher. This article will provide an overview of natural reinforcer, including its definition, history, characteristics, and provide a few suggested readings for further exploration.
Definition
A natural reinforcer is a stimulus or event that occurs in an environment that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated in the future. Natural reinforcers are different from artificial reinforcers, which are introduced by an experimenter or researcher to increase or decrease a behavior. For example, artificial reinforcers can include rewards, such as food, or punishments, such as electric shocks.
History
The concept of reinforcement has a long history in psychology, dating back to the early 20th century. Early research on reinforcement focused on understanding the effects of artificial reinforcers, such as rewards and punishments. However, in the 1950s and 1960s, researchers began to explore the use of natural reinforcers in learning and behavior. For example, in 1959, psychologist B.F. Skinner published a paper exploring the effects of natural reinforcers on pigeons. This research helped to expand the field of reinforcement and demonstrate the importance of natural reinforcers in learning and behavior.
Characteristics
Natural reinforcers play an important role in learning and behavior. Natural reinforcers can be positive, such as a food reward, or negative, such as an electric shock. Natural reinforcers can also be social, such as praise or approval from a peer, or physical, such as a hug or pat on the head. Natural reinforcers are typically specific to the individual and the environment. For example, food may be a natural reinforcer for some animals, but not for others, and in some environments, social reinforcers may be more effective than physical reinforcers.
Conclusion
Natural reinforcers play an important role in learning and behavior. Natural reinforcers are those that occur in a natural environment, rather than those that are introduced by an experimenter or researcher. Natural reinforcers can be positive or negative, and can be social or physical. Research on natural reinforcers has helped to expand the field of reinforcement and demonstrate the importance of natural reinforcers in learning and behavior.
Suggested Readings
Skinner, B. F. (1959). Some issues concerning the control of behavior. Behavioral Science, 4(2), 171-181.
Lovibond, P. F., & Shanks, D. R. (2002). The role of contingency awareness in Pavlovian conditioning: Evidence from human aversive Pavlovian-instrumental transfer. Learning and Motivation, 33(3), 265-285.
Lucke, J. F., & Schachtman, T. R. (2015). The roles of natural and artificial reinforcers in associative learning. Learning & Behavior, 43(4), 305-323.
Konorski, J. (1967). Integrative activity of the brain: An interdisciplinary approach. University of Chicago Press.