Final answer:
Negative reinforcers increase a behavior by removing an unpleasant stimulus, while punishment decreases a behavior by adding a negative consequence or removing a positive one.
Step-by-step explanation:
Negative reinforcers differ from punishment in that negative reinforcers increase the frequency of behavior when they are removed, which is the correct answer to the student's question. As we understand from operant conditioning, a negative reinforcer involves taking away an unpleasant stimulus to strengthen a desired behavior. On the contrary, punishment, whether positive or negative, aims to decrease the frequency of undesirable behavior.
For example, a car's repetitive beeping sound, which stops once the seatbelt is fastened, is an instance of negative reinforcement. The irritation created by the beeping compels the driver to engage in the behavior (buckling the seatbelt) to remove the unpleasant stimulus (the beeping). Conversely, punishment might involve adding a negative consequence (scolding a student) or removing a positive one (taking away a toy) to decrease an unwanted behavior.