What term describes strengthening the likelihood of repeated behavior through a reward?

The term that describes strengthening the likelihood of repeated behavior through a reward is positive reinforcement. This concept comes from behavioral psychology and refers to the process of encouraging a desired behavior by providing a favorable outcome or reward following that behavior. When an individual receives a reward—such as praise, treats, or any form of positive feedback—they are more likely to repeat the behavior that led to that reward in the future.

In contrast, negative reinforcement involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior; it does not involve providing a reward for the behavior itself. Punishment, on the other hand, aims to decrease or eliminate an undesirable behavior by introducing an unpleasant consequence. Observational learning refers to acquiring new behaviors by watching and imitating others, rather than through direct reinforcement. Thus, positive reinforcement is specifically focused on enhancing behavior through rewards, making it the correct choice in this context.