Some of the most common tools parents and teachers use for managing children’s behaviors are rewards and punishments. While these methods tend to lose effectiveness as a child ages, there are times ...

Negative reinforcement is a frequently misused term that diminishes its value as a powerful tool for behavior change. You may be puzzled by the claim that negative reinforcement is actually a good ...

Ask a group of experts why it is hard to lose weight, and you'll likely hear some of the following answers: Diets don't work because people can't stick to them. Our metabolism fights back, causing ...

In both business and music, the power of recognition is undeniable. Success hinges not just on raw talent but on the environment in which that talent is nurtured. Positive reinforcement — a strategy ...

I was recently talking to a business owner who has really been struggling to get ahead. They have been working 80-plus hours a week and burning the candle at both ends. They weren’t sleeping, they ...

Operant conditioning is a theory that explains how behaviors are influenced by their consequences or results. It’s often used today to help people adopt new behaviors or change old habits. If you’ve ...

She was so successful at training dolphins that she began applying the same techniques to other creatures, including dogs — and humans. By Penelope Green Karen Pryor once taught a hermit crab to ring ...