In behavior analysis, the removal of a stimulus to increase the likelihood of a desired behavior is called?

• A. Positive reinforcement
• B. Negative reinforcement
• C. Punishment
• D. Extinction

Answer: (B)

The correct answer is negative reinforcement. In behavior analysis, negative reinforcement refers to the process where a behavior is strengthened because it results in the removal or avoidance of an unpleasant stimulus. This means that when the desired behavior occurs, something that is considered aversive is taken away, thereby increasing the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated in the future.

For example, if a child completes their homework to avoid a nagging parent, the removal of the nagging (an aversive stimulus) reinforces the homework behavior. Thus, the child is more likely to do their homework in the future to escape that unpleasantness.

Negative reinforcement is distinct from positive reinforcement, where a desirable stimulus is presented to increase the likelihood of a behavior. Punishment involves introducing an aversive stimulus or removing a pleasant one to decrease a behavior, while extinction refers to the discontinuation of reinforcement for a previously reinforced behavior, leading to a decrease in that behavior over time.