<Li> The form of a stimulus is separate from its function in terms of whether it will reinforce or punish behavior . An event that may punish behavior for some may serve to reinforce behavior for others . Example: A child is repeatedly given detention for acting up in school, but the frequency of the bad behavior increases . Thus, the detention may be a reinforcer (could be positive or negative); perhaps the child now gets one - on - one attention from a teacher or perhaps they now avoid going home where they are often abused . </Li> <Li> Some reinforcement can be simultaneously positive and negative, such as a drug addict taking drugs for the added euphoria (a positive feeling) and eliminating withdrawal symptoms (which would be a negative feeling). Or, in a warm room, a current of external air serves as positive reinforcement because it is pleasantly cool and as negative reinforcement because it removes uncomfortable hot air . </Li> <Li> Reinforcement in the business world is essential in driving productivity . Employees are constantly motivated by the ability to receive a positive stimulus, such as a promotion or a bonus . Employees are also driven by negative reinforcement . This can be seen when employees are offered Saturdays off if they complete the weekly workload by Friday . </Li> <Li> Though negative reinforcement has a positive effect in the short term for a workplace (i.e. encourages a financially beneficial action), over-reliance on a negative reinforcement hinders the ability of workers to act in a creative, engaged way creating growth in the long term . </Li>

Who added the concept of reinforcement to learning theory