Final answer:
The answer is B. Positive reinforcement; negative reinforcement. Positive reinforcement involves adding a desirable stimulus to increase a behavior, while negative reinforcement entails the removal of an aversive stimulus to increase a behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
Presentation of a rewarding stimulus serves as positive reinforcement, whereas removal of an aversive stimulus serves as negative reinforcement. Hence, the correct answer to the question is B. Positive reinforcement; negative reinforcement. In positive reinforcement, a desirable stimulus is added after a behavior, thereby increasing the likelihood of that behavior being repeated. On the other hand, negative reinforcement involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus in response to a behavior, thereby increasing that behavior's frequency in the future.
Negative reinforcement and punishment are different concepts within operant conditioning. Reinforcement, whether positive or negative, always aims to increase the frequency of a behavior, while punishment, whether positive or negative, seeks to decrease it. An example of negative reinforcement could be the cessation of an annoying alarm once the seatbelt is fastened, an application used in car manufacturing to encourage the use of seatbelts. In contrast, positive punishment may include adding a scolding to discourage a student from texting in class, aiming to decrease the undesired behavior.