Question

Removal of an unpleasant stimulus, putting on a sweater when you are cold for example, which leads to an increase in the probability that a preceding response will be repeated in the future is an example of _____.

1) Positive reinforcement
2) Negative reinforcement
3) Punishment
4) Extinction

Answer 1

Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior's occurrence.

Step-by-step explanation:

The removal of an unpleasant stimulus to increase the probability of a behavior's occurrence is known as negative reinforcement. An example of this is when you put on a sweater because you are cold; the unpleasant stimulus (cold) is removed, which increases the likelihood that you will put on a sweater when cold in the future. This is different than punishment, which seeks to decrease a behavior. Positive reinforcement, on the other hand, would involve adding a pleasant stimulus to increase a behavior, such as giving a treat to a dog for fetching a ball.