What occurs as a consequence of reinforcement?

Reinforcement is a key concept in behavioral psychology, particularly within the framework of operant conditioning. When a behavior is followed by a reinforcing stimulus, it strengthens the association between the behavior and the positive outcome that follows, which in turn increases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated in the future.

For instance, if a student receives praise (reinforcement) for completing their homework, they are more likely to repeat that behavior of doing homework in order to receive praise again. This process illustrates how reinforcement effectively increases the probability of a desired behavior occurring, as individuals learn to associate their actions with rewards or positive feedback.

In contrast, other options describe scenarios where the behavior does not benefit from reinforcement. A decrease in likelihood suggests that the behavior is being discouraged, while a constant likelihood implies that no motivational changes have occurred because no reinforcement has been applied. The likelihood of a behavior becoming irrelevant also suggests a disconnection from the consequences of the behavior, which is not what happens in the context of reinforcement. Therefore, the consequence of reinforcement is fundamentally linked to increasing the chances that the reinforced behavior will be performed again.