Negative Reinforcement Examples in Everyday Life: Learn How It Works

A child screams and throws a tantrum in a grocery store, so the parent gives in and buys them a candy bar to stop the behavior.

An employee at a company consistently turns in work late, so their boss stops giving them as many assignments to complete.

A dog barks loudly, so the owner gives them a treat to distract them and stop the barking behavior.

A student procrastinates on their homework, so their teacher extends the deadline to give them more time to complete the work.

A driver speeds on the highway, so they get pulled over by a police officer and receive a ticket, which serves as a negative consequence to discourage them from speeding in the future.