Negative reinforcement: how to use

​​​​​​​Negative reinforcement is a method of changing unwanted behavior. It consists in an instant and unpleasant reaction for the trainee to his undesirable behavior, which stops as soon as the behavior has improved even slightly.

For animals, an electric shepherd is used — a fence, which, if an animal approaches it and touches it, will shock it. But the action of the fence ends immediately as soon as the animal ceases to come into contact with it in any way.

How to use the negative reinforcement method?

Firstly, only as an addition to the positive, against the background of positive reinforcement. This is the general and most important rule for using negative reinforcement; without it, the negative reinforcement method leads to weak and low results. As a rare addition to the positive reinforcement method, for a faster result, negative reinforcement can and should be used, the approximate ratio of positive and negative is 7:1 (one “poke” for seven “strokes”).

The second is when the trainee is “in the resource”. Negative reinforcement works well only if the trainee is in a resourceful state, positive and ready to accept negative reinforcement as well. It is foolish to try to hook a person who is now in difficult feelings himself. First, it must be returned to a positive or at least calm state.

And, thirdly, as a prevention of «star disease». Negative reinforcement works well with promising, fast-growing, talented learners as a preventive measure against star fever. In this case, it is also reasonable to use negative reinforcement not as the main teaching method, but as an addition to positive reinforcement, and is applied when the trainee is in a positive and calm state.

As an illustration of the correct use of the method, one of the handball teams regularly won and easily won match after match. There were two matches ahead. The first, which was not decisive, and the second, the final with a strong opponent. The coach deliberately built the game in the first match so that the team was the loser. This was an incentive for the players who had already relaxed to get together and give it their all again. As a result, the team became the champion.

Examples of a competent method of negative reinforcement?

In modern foreign cars, if you forgot to fasten your seat belt, an audible signal turns on, which stops as soon as you fasten your seat belt. The door closing sensor works on the same principle in cars and some other refrigerators. It will beep until the door is closed. This is a clever use of negative reinforcement.

In a relationship — if, for example, a loved one grumbles for a long time and tediously, start doing your own thing and do not pay attention until the topic of his grumbling is exhausted and he starts talking about something else.

If the child makes noise and throws a tantrum, for example in a car, stop the car and report that you will not go further until it is quiet. All persuasions are ignored, because it has not become quiet. As soon as silence reigns, we move on.

Or, do you want to accustom yourself (or wean) to something new? Come up with a small penalty that is easy to implement at the moment of misbehavior: for example, put a small rubber band on your hand and, having done what you didn’t want to, pull back and lightly hit your hand on your hand: it doesn’t hurt, but it attracts attention.