reinforcement

re·in·force·ment   (rē'ĭn-fôrs'mənt, -fōrs'-)    n.   The act or process of reinforcing or the state of being reinforced. Something that reinforces. Additional personnel or equipment sent to support a military action. Often used in the plural. Psychology The occurrence or experimental introduction of an unconditioned stimulus along with a conditioned stimulus. The strengthening of a conditioned response by such means. An event, a circumstance, or a condition that increases the likelihood that a given response will recur in a situation like that in which the reinforcing condition originally occurred.

Main Entry: re·in·force·ment
Pronunciation: "rE-&n-'fOr-sm&nt, -'for-
Function: noun
: the action of causing a subject (as astudent or an experimental animal) to learn to give or to increase the frequency of a desired response that in classical conditioning involves the repeated presentation of an unconditioned stimulus (asthe sight of food) paired with a conditioned stimulus (as the sound of a bell) and that in operant conditioning involves the use of a reward following a correct response or a punishment following anincorrect response; also : the reward, punishment, or unconditioned stimulus used in reinforcement —compare RECRUITMENT 1

reinforcement re·in·force·ment (rē'ĭn-fôrs'mənt)
n.

1. The act or process of reinforcing.

2. Something that reinforces.

3. The occurrence or experimental introduction of an unconditioned stimulus along with a conditioned stimulus.

4. The strengthening of a conditioned response by such means.

5. An event, a circumstance, or a condition that increases the likelihood that a given response will recur in a situation like that in which the reinforcing condition originally occurred.