reinforce
ree-in-FORSS
/ˌriːɪnˈfɔːrs/
To strengthen a behavior by providing a consequence that increases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.
Often used as 'positive reinforcement' (adding a treat) or 'negative reinforcement' (removing something unpleasant).
The story behind the word. Derived from the French 'renforcer,' it originally referred to adding more troops to a military line to make it stronger. In the 20th century, B.F. Skinner adopted it for behavioral psychology.
Word relationships
- bolster: Bolster means to support or prop up, while reinforce specifically means to make a behavior more frequent.
- weaken: Weaken is a general term, whereas in training, 'extinguish' is the technical term for stopping a behavior.
Commonly confused with
- reward: A reward is a gift; reinforcement is a functional relationship that changes future behavior.
Word family
- reinforcement (noun): The act of strengthening.
Collocations
- positively reinforce
- reinforce a behavior
- reinforce a habit
Example sentences
- "To reinforce the 'sit' command, give the puppy a treat the moment its tail touches the floor." Psychological principles of training.
Memory hook
RE-IN-FORCE: To put FORCE back INto a behavior so it stays strong. Strength through repetition.
When not to use
Don't confuse with 'reward'; a reward is the thing you give, while reinforce is the psychological process of strengthening the habit.
Fun facts
- Negative reinforcement is not punishment; it's the removal of something annoying (like a seatbelt beep) to encourage a behavior.
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