Final answer:
Negative reinforcement is used to increase the probability of a behavior by removing an undesirable stimulus, such as silencing a seatbelt alarm by buckling up. It's distinct from punishment, which reduces the likelihood of a behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
Negative reinforcement leads to an increase in the probability of a behavior. It involves the removal of an undesirable stimulus to increase the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated. For instance, the seatbelt reminder noise in a car that stops when the belt is fastened is a form of negative reinforcement. It's important to distinguish this from punishment in operant conditioning, as punishment decreases behavior, whereas reinforcement, including negative reinforcement, always aims to increase behavior.
Punishment, on the other hand, can be positive or negative but always works to decrease the likelihood of a behavior. For example, positive punishment might involve adding a reprimand to decrease texting in class, and negative punishment could involve taking away a favorite toy to reduce undesired behavior in a child.