What process involves reinforcing a behavior through the addition of positive outcomes?

The process of reinforcing a behavior through the addition of positive outcomes is known as positive reinforcement. This concept is rooted in behavioral psychology and is fundamental to behavior change strategies. When a desired behavior is followed by a positive consequence, it increases the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated in the future. For instance, if an individual starts exercising regularly and receives compliments or feels more energetic as a result, these positive outcomes reinforce their commitment to continue exercising.

In terms of contextual clarity, while incentivization might seem related, it generally refers to setting up specific rewards to motivate behavior, not the intrinsic reinforcement of positive outcomes that occurs naturally in positive reinforcement. Encouragement often involves verbal support or motivation from others but doesn’t necessarily include the systematic reinforcement of behavior. Behavior modeling involves demonstrating a desired behavior for others to emulate but does not inherently involve the reinforcement of a behavior through the addition of positive outcomes. Thus, positive reinforcement is the most accurate description of this process.