Within Applied Behavior Analysis there are two types of reinforcement: positive and negative. Reinforcement is used to help increase the probability that a specific behavior will occur in the future by either delivering or removing a stimulus immediately after a behavior. This means that with reinforcement if it is done correctly will result in a behavior occurring more frequently in the future.

Positive reinforcement works by adding a reinforcing or motivating stimulus to the person after the desired behavior is exhibited. This makes the behavior more likely to occur in the future.

An example of this is when a mother gives her daughter praise for doing her homework. The reinforcing stimulus is the praise, while the behavior is the completion of the homework.