Which strengthens a behavior by adding a pleasant outcome?

• A. Positive Reinforcement
• B. Negative Reinforcement
• C. Punishment
• D. Negative Punishment

Answer: (A)

Adding a pleasant outcome after a behavior strengthens that behavior. This is positive reinforcement: you reward the dog when it performs the desired action (for example, giving a treat or praise after a correct response), so the dog learns the action is worth repeating. Over time the association between the action and the reward makes the behavior more likely to occur again.

This differs from negative reinforcement, which strengthens a behavior by removing something unpleasant after the action (for instance, easing pressure once the dog performs the task). Punishment reduces a behavior by adding an unpleasant consequence, while negative punishment reduces a behavior by removing something desirable after the unwanted action.