John smiles at his dog whenever it barks. As a result, the dog begins barking even more frequently. This is an example of
A) positive punishment.
B) negative reinforcement.
C) negative punishment.
D) positive reinforcement.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

John smiling at his dog whenever it barks acts as a reward for the dog, thereby increasing the frequency of the behavior. This is the definition of positive reinforcement, where the addition of a stimulus following a behavior makes it more likely that the behavior will occur again.

John Smiles at His Dog Whenever It Barks