Final answer:
In operant conditioning, positive and negative do not mean good and bad. Positive means adding, negative means taking away. Negative reinforcement removes an undesirable stimulus to increase a behavior, while punishment decreases behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
In operant conditioning, positive and negative do not mean good and bad. Positive means you are adding something, and negative means you are taking something away. Reinforcement means you are increasing a behavior, and punishment means you are decreasing a behavior.
Negative reinforcement is the removal of an undesirable stimulus to increase a behavior. For example, car manufacturers use negative reinforcement in their seatbelt systems that go 'beep, beep, beep' until you fasten your seatbelt. The annoying sound stops when you exhibit the desired behavior.
In contrast, punishment always decreases a behavior. Positive punishment is the addition of an undesirable stimulus to decrease a behavior. For example, scolding a student to get them to stop texting in class. Negative punishment is the removal of a pleasant stimulus to decrease behavior. For example, taking away a favorite toy when a child misbehaves.