Final answer:
In operant conditioning, negative signifies the removal of a stimulus, while positive denotes its addition. Negative reinforcement increases behavior by removing an undesired stimulus, distinct from negative punishment, which decreases behavior by taking away a desirable one.
Step-by-step explanation:
In operant conditioning, negative and positive refer to whether a stimulus is removed (negative) or added (positive), while reinforcement and punishment pertain to whether a behavior is being increased or decreased, respectively. Negative reinforcement occurs when an undesirable stimulus is taken away in order to increase a behavior, like turning off a persistent beeping sound when a seatbelt is buckled. Negative punishment, on the other hand, involves removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior, like taking away a child's favorite toy as a consequence for misbehaving.
It's important not to confuse negative reinforcement with punishment, as the former always serves to increase a behavior, not decrease it. Meanwhile, in both positive punishment and negative punishment, the goal is to decrease an unwanted behavior either by adding an unpleasant stimulus or taking away a pleasant one, respectively.