“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.’” — Jeremiah 29:1
Last week’s post dealt with the internal-emotional aspect of positive thinking. Continuing with the theme of positivity, I want to discuss positive reinforcement. However, before I get into the lesson, let me define the term positive reinforcement and then give a real-life comparative example.
I am using the classical definition of positive reinforcement, which states that it is the conditional provision of motivation following a goal behavior, which results in an increase or maintenance of the frequency, duration, and/or intensity of the goal behavior. Conversely, negative reinforcement is defined as the conditional removal of motivation following a goal behavior, which results in increasing or maintaining the frequency, duration, and/or intensity of the goal behavior.[1] Simply put, positive reinforcement occurs when someone (or a group of people like a student classroom) meets a behavior expectation, and you reward them for it. Negative reinforcement occurs when someone (or a group of people like a student classroom) does not meet a behavior expectation, and you remove or withhold the reward.
One real-life example of positive and negative reinforcements I used simultaneously when I taught public middle school was baking goodies for my students when they made an A on an exam. What was the provisional motivation? Freshly baked cupcakes, cookies, etc. What was the condition? One makes an A on an exam. What was the goal behavior? The students put maximum effort into studying for the exam. What result did I hope to encourage? That they become A students? No. Becoming A students would have been a significant result. Still, the ultimate result was their increase (or at least maintenance) of maximum effort in studying and learning that they would carry for the rest of their lives.
On the other hand, negative reinforcement happened to the students who did not make an A on the exam. The baked goodies were withheld from those students, which probed them to do better for the next exam, whether studying longer or implementing a different study skill. Of course, I was available to help them improve in either area.
It should be noted that there is a difference between negative reinforcement and punishment. Negative reinforcement, when implemented, has the goal and results in an increase in expected behavior, i.e., maximum effort in studying. Unfortunately, punishment results in a decrease in expected behavior. Punishment is not a withholding of reward but an addition of an undesired provocation. When a student does not make an A on an exam, a teacher might make the student sit at the silent lunch table or go to detention hall instead of recess, which then makes the student angry and disconnect their relationship with the teacher, which results in the student “giving up” or not trying to improve their skills at all.
Throughout Scripture, we find God using all three behavior modifications for people. We should learn from Him how and when to implement a behavior modification while in a position of authority. All three modifications are essential for how we speak to and treat others. Suppose we are parents who only use punishment on our children. In that case, we infuse or provoke deep-seated anger and resentment in our children (Eph. 6:4) that will lead to sin (Eph. 4:26). So, there must be balance and forethought in how, when, and why we reinforce behaviors the way we do.
The first behavior modification we see in the Bible that God uses for His covenant people is positive reinforcement. It is the first behavior modification when we consider God’s Word. Listen to how He phrases His words to Adam and Eve, 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food (Gen. 1:28-19).
Thinking about the above passage, what was the provisional motivation? Food that comes from every plant yielding seed and tree, i.e., life. What was the condition? Their faithful obedience to God’s covenant promise/blessing for them. What were the goal behaviors? First, begin a family by having children. Second, subdue and have dominion over the earth. What would result? Adam, Eve, and their children would live eternally in a covenantal relationship with God without worry, pain, or care. God provided Abraham a positive reinforcement of being the “father of many nations,” but first, God called him to separate himself and go to the land, which God would show him (Gen. 12:1-3, Gen. 15:4-5). You might think this is work righteousness or meritorious favor. However, we cannot discount the biblical context. Abraham obeyed because of His faith in God (Gen. 15:6); even Jesus (John 8:39) and Paul (Rom. 4:1-3, 16-17) say so.
How may we use this biblical concept?[2] I provided examples from the parenting and educational categories above. So, let us apply a marital model. You are the primary dishwasher loader. You have a particular organization for the dishes in the washer. However, your spouse places the dishes willy-nilly in the washer. Your spouse’s behavior exasperates you, and you grumble and maybe even scold your spouse for being inconsiderate. The positive reinforcement approach would express lavish gratitude when you notice certain items placed how you like them. You would say, “Pat, I noticed that you placed your glass on the right-hand side of the top rack in descending height just the way I like. That means so much that you thought about my preference for dishwasher loading, and I want you to know how much I appreciate you.”
How about a job example? You have repeatedly told your crew to use the number three doohickey on the green widget. Chris seems defiant and uses the number four. You have scolded him and threatened to fire him. However, you notice that he used the number three doohickey on the green widget one day. Most leaders would pass by and think, “whew, I am glad Chris finally got it together.” However, a good leader would positively reinforce the behavior by calling Chris to the side and telling him how much you appreciate his work and that if he continues to perform at such a top level, there might be a future leadership position for him.
Is this laying it on thick? No, because encouragement is a more effective teaching device than punishment. As Solomon teaches, Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body (Prov. 16:24; cf.1 Thess. 5:11)
[1] Although many teachers and counselors recognize these definitions from B.F. Skinner’s secular behavioral theories [The Behavior of Organisms (New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1938) and Contingencies of Reinforcement: A Theoretical Analysis (New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1969)], I will address Positive reinforcement from a biblical viewpoint.
[2] Yes, I said biblical because B.F. Skinner et al. did nothing but observe in humanity what God had already established.
Andrews PCA 