positive reinforcement

noun

The giving of encouragement to a person who exhibits a particular behaviour with the result that such behaviour is repeated.

“The mother did not realize that giving her son candy every time he cried was positive reinforcement.”

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Meanings

nounpositive reinforcement (uncountable)
  1. uncountableThe giving of encouragement to a person who exhibits a particular behaviour with the result that such behaviour is repeated.

    The mother did not realize that giving her son candy every time he cried was positive reinforcement.

    1 more example

    With positive reinforcement, by adding something the animal desires, the likelihood that the behavior will occur again is increased.

    2015, Ilona Rodan, Sarah Heath, editors, Feline Behavioral Health and Welfare, Elsevier Health Sciences, →ISBN, page 46

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 陽性強化法 /阳性强化法
  • 陽性強化法 /阳性强化法 (yángxìng qiánghuàfǎ)giving of encouragement to a person who exhibits a particular behaviour
Danish positiv forstærkning
  • positiv forstærkninggiving of encouragement to a person who exhibits a particular behaviour
Finnish positiivinen vahvistaminen
  • positiivinen vahvistaminengiving of encouragement to a person who exhibits a particular behaviour
French renforcement positif
  • renforcement positifgiving of encouragement to a person who exhibits a particular behaviour
German positive Verstärkung
  • positive Verstärkunggiving of encouragement to a person who exhibits a particular behaviour
Portuguese reforço positivo
  • reforço positivogiving of encouragement to a person who exhibits a particular behaviour
Russian положи́тельное подкре́пление
  • положи́тельное подкре́пление (položítelʹnoje podkréplenije)giving of encouragement to a person who exhibits a particular behaviour
Spanish refuerzo positivo, reforzamiento positivo
  • refuerzo positivogiving of encouragement to a person who exhibits a particular behaviour
  • reforzamiento positivogiving of encouragement to a person who exhibits a particular behaviour
Cite this entry
APA

positive reinforcement. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/positive%20reinforcement

MLA

“positive reinforcement.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/positive%20reinforcement. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “positive reinforcement,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/positive%20reinforcement.

Source: positive reinforcement on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.