Reinforcement refers to a procedure or consequence, which increases the frequency of the behavior immediately preceding it. If the behavior is already occurring at a high frequency level, then the reinforcement maintains the behavior's frequency. If the consequence of the behavior makes the behavior occur more often or maintains it at its current rate, then the consequences are considered reinforcing. These reinforcers strengthen the behavior and make it more likely that the behavior will occur at some future point.

There are two different types of reinforcement. Positive reinforcement refers to consequences, which follow a behavior and act to strengthen that behavior. For example, reinforcement for completing all of a student's assignments may be that they get a free period at the end of the week to work on a project they would like to do, such as art. Negative reinforcement refers to the removal of a consequence, which serves to increase the frequency of the particular behavior. An example of a negative reinforcement might be that a student gets detention for getting caught cheating on a test. The detention serves as a negative reinforcement to keep the student form doing the s

Harrington, Richard. British Medical Journal. Systematic review of efficacy of cognitive behavior therapies in childhood and adolescent depressive disorder (May 23, 1998).

Snyder, Karen V. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Anger management for adolescents: efficacy of brief group therapy (November, 1999).

Positive primary reinforcement are rewarding in of themselves. Food is the best example of this type of reinforcement. Secondary reinforcement, however, must be learned. The key is that they must be learned. Money is the best example of a secondary reinforcement. Activities are a secondary reinforcement also. An example of this type of reinforcement would be as follows: Tommy hates doing his homework at night. However, he loves going to the movies on Friday. He is positively reinforced by his parents for doing one hour of homework per night by giving him money so that he can go to the movies on Friday. He learns that by doing his homework, he will get a reward (Money) which can help him go to an activity (movie).

Kaminer, Yifrah. Journal of the American Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Contingency management reinforcement procedures for adolescent substance abuse (October, 2000).

Some common words found in the essay are:
, Premack Principle, Journal Systematic, Psychiatry Cognitive-behavioral, Psychiatry Contingency, Psychiatry Anger, positive reinforcement, secondary reinforcement, negative reinforcement, Child Adolescent, Adolescent Psychiatry, Journal American, child adolescent, journal american, adolescent psychiatry, reinforcement refers, child adolescent psychiatry, doing homework, American Academy, academy child adolescent, academy child, journal american academy, american academy, example type reinforcement, reinforcement positive reinforcement,
Approximate Word count = 981
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)