1. The Difference Between Things That Are Different: Positive and Negative Reinforcement

2. Pre-requisite knowledge for this presentation: Know what I mean by positive and negative reinforcement Be able to listen attentively while I speak extremely fast This is short

3. L’histoire

4. “Only a change can function as a consequence for behavior, so we do not need static pre or post change conditions.” Jack Michael 1975

5. A hypothesized defense We like it because… 1. There is something different in an important way between the effects that positive reinforce and negative reinforcement have on behavior 2. There are different physiological processes 3. We can warn against the effects of negative reinforcement

6. 3 decades later…. Baron, and Galizio (2005) Positive and Negative is confusing, and often difficult to discern Temporal relations Stimulus ON when bx occurs, OFF after bx occurs = SR - Stimulus OFF when bx occurs, ON after bx occurs = SR +

7. What about ambiguous stuff? Heat in a cold environment Cold in a hot environment Food deprivation The feeling of reinforcement

8. FOR!!!AGAINST!!! Chase, P. N. (2006). Teaching the distinction between positive and negative reinforcement. The Behavior Analyst, 29, 113-115. Iwata, B. A. (2006). On the distinction between positive and negative reinforcement. The Behavior Analyst, 29, 121- 123. Lattal, K. A., & Lattal, A. D. (2006). And yet…:Further comments on distinguishing positive and negative reinforcement. The Behavior Analyst, 29, 129-134. Marr, M. J. (2006). Through the looking glass: Symmetry in behavioral principles? The Behavior Analyst, 29, 125- 128. Michael, J. (2006). Comment on Baron and Galizio (2005). The Behavior Analyst, 29, 117-119.

9. Sidman’s Response Confusing? Can be Exclusively one way or the other every time? No not so much May a new term provided useful clarity? Probably Should we throw out the distinction? Nope

10. Defense against presumed defense For the distinction 1. I agree the functions are the same 2. I would be surprised if my basal ganglia made specific distinctions between theoretical processes 3. I don’t need the term negative reinforcement to warn against effects

11. These are my confessions… These processes, like most things, are not dichotomous It confuses laymen Theoretically, it doesn’t make extensive contributions to a philosophy of behavior

13. Dan’s cookie example If you give a child a cookie… Terminate a lack of nothing....? What? ?

14. Is it practical to say: An empty bladder was added after urinating… Terminated a lack of praise… Added not being pulled over… Terminated a period of not having my back scratched…

15. Additional Subtraction soup So…. We get to reinforce by adding nothing, or terminating nothing…? If that is the case do I get to reinforce not a behavior? Because I would LOVE to be able to do that

16. Iwata’s examples Action (delivery) is different than a change in environmental conditions You don’t need deprivation for conditioned reinforcers to function Abolishing and Establishing operations

17. “As long as the conditions labeled as positive or negative reinforcement (or as EOs or AOs) are described carefully, I do not see much harm in maintaining the distinction” ~Brian Iwata

18. Here’s the point(s) 1. The distinction does not weaken our understanding of behavior 2. Word games are not convincing enough 3. I know what your saying when you say positive and negative reinforcement 4. There is clinical utility

19. Directions for future research N/A

20. Okay, I win… now what? No more need to argue Let us use what we know to make applied decisions “There is something that might be gained by identifying the nature of the stimulus change that serves as reinforcement”