How Does Sheldon Use Positive And Negative Reinforcement

The Big Bang Theory, is a television show which utilizes many psychological tactics. In this specific scene, Sheldon demonstrated multiple conditioning methods on both Penny and Leonard. All of these techniques are what psychology refers to as operant conditioning. In operant conditioning, the experimenter could use positive and negative reinforcement, as well as positive and negative punishment. Out of these four methods, we see Sheldon apply positive and negative reinforcement, along with positive punishment. One method which Sheldon employed was positive reinforcement. Although Penny was frustrated with Sheldon, we can infer this because of the tone of Penny’s voice and her threat to punch Sheldon, Penny offered to take away Sheldon’s plate. Sheldon deemed this behaviour as correct, and extended a chocolate, otherwise known as the reinforcement. Penny enjoys the chocolate, as she later exclaims how the chocolates taste “so good.” Therefore, Penny likes the consequence, so as long as the reinforcement is on a continuous schedule, the likelihood of the target behaviour repeating increases.

Sheldon is known to become upset when someone sits in his spot. With this in mind, Penny sits down, realizes this and switches spots. Penny did not need for Sheldon to reprimand her, nor did the sight of Sheldon act as a stimulus for her to move spots. Sheldon is impressed and reinforces the desired behaviour by presenting a chocolate. This is referred to as negative and positive reinforcement. In this case, Penny uses avoidance to negate the unwanted consequence. By doing so, Sheldon is eliminating the unwanted behaviour, which is sitting in his spot. The likelihood hood of this behaviour repeating