Reinforcement

Order Description
“Reinforcement is the process in which a behavior is strengthened by the immediate consequence that reliably follows its occurrence” (Miltenberger, 2012, p. 61). Reinforcers can include food, blessings, attention, protection, and many other things. Compare an instance of reinforcement that you find in the Bible with the description of reinforcement in your textbook. Include biblical reference

Solution

Reinforcement

To be very honest struggled with the post for this week. I have not read my Bible in since I earned my degree in Theology. It is very sad on my part. Please don’t judge me. Be that as it may, the only reinforcements that I can think of are the blessings that come through tithing.

Tithing has long been a source of goodness. I was raised that if I tithed, I would be blessed. My grandmother made it her business to make sure that I understood the many reasons why I should tithe. Her favorite quote comes from the book of Malachi. It states, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 3:10-12, King James Version). While reviewing the above mentioned scripture, I kept thinking of the definition of reinforcement.

Miltenberger (2015) states that reinforcement is the “occurrence of a certain type of behavior, immediate consequence, and the behavior being strengthened by the end results” (pp. 67) Relating this back to the scripture I chose, individuals don’t just pay tithes out of obedience to God’s word, although it would seem that way. God’s word provides comfort in tithing. He promises us that when we tithe He will pour out blessing that we could only imagine. That scripture brings peace to us all in the fact that we would not have to worry about where our help will come from, as our help will be in Him.

Miltenberger, R. G. (2015). Behavior modification: Principles and procedures (5th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage. ISBN: 9781305758025.

Holy Bible, King James Version (2012)