Over the years I have heard many people describe positive reinforcement as ‘bribery’. This is because they have an inaccurate understanding of the two concepts. There is a significant difference!
Positive reinforcement involves rewarding students when they do well, specifically for demonstrating good behaviour and for accomplishments. It provides motivation for children to engage in appropriate behaviours. In behaviour science, the term ‘positive reinforcement’ is used to describe the provision of a reinforcer or reward, that will increase the likelihood that a target behaviour will be repeated.
Positive reinforcement is NOT the same thing as bribery!
Bribery is an attempt to make another person do something for you by giving them money, gifts, or something else they desire. Oftentimes, bribery is used to coerce someone into doing something illegal. This is the reason it has such negative connotations associated with its usage. The truth is, using bribery will actually increase the likelihood that the inappropriate behaviour will continue in the future; it is not an effective long term strategy to help a child to improve their behaviour.
An easy way to tell the difference is:
Bribery– if you do this, or stop doing that, I will give you a reward.
Positive reinforcement– I noticed that you made a good choice and demonstrated positive behaviour, you deserve a reward.
The difference depends on when the reinforcer is provided. A bribe occurs after a problem behaviour has started and the purpose is to make the behaviour stop. This means the child is in control and they will choose to behave inappropriately in order to get the reward. The negative behaviour might stop in the short term, however, it will return. This is because it actually teaches the child that if they do something which annoys the adult, they will be rewarded so that they stop. Bribery does not teach them the skills required to help them make better decisions in the future.
When using positive reinforcement, the ‘reinforcer’ is given AFTER the child demonstrates the desired behaviour. This means the parent or teacher is in control. Positive reinforcement works to increase appropriate behaviour in the long term because it teaches them how to behave appropriately. It helps the child to make good decisions in the future. It is about catching them behaving positively and acknowledging this behaviour.
An important thing to remember is that positive reinforcement is planned ahead of the event, the purpose being to teach the child how to demonstrate appropriate behaviour to get their needs met. On the other hand, bribery is negotiated when a challenging behaviour is occurring in order to get it to stop.
The main benefits of positive reinforcement include:
- It encourages desired behaviour
- It builds self-esteem and confidence
- It enhances motivation
- It strengthens relationships
- It facilitates learning and skill development
- It reduces the need for punishment
- It promotes creativity and problem solving
Overall, positive reinforcement is an effective and compassionate approach that promotes personal growth, builds healthy relationships, and fosters a positive environment conducive to learning and development.
