Animal Training

• Modern animal trainers often use the techniques of operant conditioning to encourage desirable behavior. Through the use of positive and negative reinforcement, animals learn which behaviors are good and which ones are bad. A common example of this form of conditioning is to reward the animal with a treat for performing a trick. The animal enjoys the treat and comes to learn that doing the trick results in the reward.
  
  

Education

• Several classroom techniques are based on behavioral theories. Teachers use positive reinforcement and punishment on students to shape behavior. An example of a positive reinforcement for grade school students is being rewarded with extra recess time for good behavior, like doing well on a test. Examples of punishment are taking away a cell phone, detention or timeouts.
  
  

Smoking Cessation

• Financial rewards are more commonly being used to help people stop smoking. Health insurance companies may offer cheaper insurance rates to people who do not smoke. In some instances, people who do smoke can still earn a lower rate if they partake in a quit smoking program. In Dundee, Scotland, positive reinforcements took the form of offering smokers grocery gift cards if they refrained from smoking.
  
  

Increasing Workplace Productivity

• Supervisors use bonuses and rewards as a way of encouraging productivity from employees. Managers may offer an additional vacation day to the person who makes the most sales on a particular day. Offices will enter everyone who works overtime into a drawing for a gift card. Other examples include providing lunch to reward productive employees.