Which behavioral principle explains increasing a desired behavior by removing an unpleasant condition?

• A. Positive reinforcement
• B. Negative reinforcement
• C. Punishment
• D. Extinction

Answer: (B)

This question targets how removing an unpleasant condition after a behavior occurs increases that behavior’s likelihood. That mechanism is negative reinforcement. Here, the behavior is strengthened because it leads to the removal of an aversive stimulus, making you more likely to repeat it in the future. For example, finishing homework to stop a loud, annoying feedback sound reinforces doing homework because the unpleasant sound goes away once the task is completed. This differs from punishment, which adds something unpleasant to decrease a behavior; extinction, which occurs when reinforcement is no longer provided and the behavior fades; and positive reinforcement, which rises when a pleasant outcome is added.