What is a common example of Positive Reinforcement?

Positive reinforcement is a concept in behavioral psychology where a desirable stimulus is presented following a desired behavior, which increases the likelihood that the behavior will occur again in the future. The example of a toddler receiving a toy for behaving well illustrates this perfectly. In this scenario, the child's good behavior is followed by receiving a toy, which acts as a reward. This encourages the toddler to continue exhibiting that good behavior, as they associate it with the positive outcome of receiving something they enjoy.

The essence of positive reinforcement lies in its ability to strengthen the behavior by adding a pleasant stimulus, making it a powerful tool in learning and behavior modification. In this case, the toy serves as a motivator for the child, reinforcing the notion that good behavior leads to positive rewards.