According to B. F. Skinner, positive reinforcement will increase the frequency of a behavior and punishment will decrease the frequency of a behavior.
Positive reinforcement refers to following a desirable behavior with a positive consequence, which in turn increases the frequency of the desirable behavior being repeated. For instance, if a child is given a gold star or praise by his teacher for tidying up his desk, he will be more likely to consistently tidy up his desk in the future.
On the other hand, if a child is reprimanded (punished) for making a mess, he will be less likely to repeat the behavior in the future to avoid the punishment.
