The strengthening of a response by reward or avoidance of punishment. This process is central in operant conditioning.
In classical conditioning, the procedure by which the unconditioned stimulus is made contingent upon the conditioned stimulus.
In psychology, strengthening of a particular response or behavioral pattern by rewarding desirable behavior and punishing undesirable behavior.
The strengthening of a conditioned reflex. In classical conditioning this takes place when a conditioned stimulus is presented simultaneously with (or just before) the unconditioned stimulus. In operant conditioning it takes place when a pleasurable event (or reinforcer), such as a reward, follows immediately after some behavior. The reinforcement schedule governs how often and when such behavior is rewarded. Different schedules produce different effects on behavior.