FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What is the concept of negative reinforcement?

1. Encouraging behavior by adding an adverse stimulus

2. Influencing behavior by removing an adverse stimulant

3. Creating a desired effect through punishment

4. Reinforcing behavior by ignoring it

The correct answer is: Influencing behavior by removing an adverse stimulant

Negative reinforcement is a concept in behavioral psychology where a behavior is strengthened by the removal of an unpleasant or adverse stimulus. This process encourages the repetition of a desired behavior because it leads to the elimination of something negative, thereby creating a more favorable outcome for the individual. For example, if a student studies hard to avoid receiving a bad grade, the act of studying is considered positively reinforced because it allows the student to escape the negative experience of failing. In this way, the likelihood of studying in the future increases as the student learns that their efforts can effectively remove the unpleasant consequence. In contrast, other options describe different concepts that do not align with the definition of negative reinforcement. For instance, using an adverse stimulus to encourage behavior refers to positive punishment rather than negative reinforcement. Similarly, creating a desired effect through punishment is about discouraging behavior rather than reinforcing it. Lastly, reinforcing behavior by ignoring it aligns more closely with the idea of extinction or lack of response rather than reinforcement.