What is defined as the process of increasing behaviors by stopping negative stimuli?

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

Answer: (C)

The process of increasing behaviors by stopping negative stimuli is known as negative reinforcement. In behavioral psychology, negative reinforcement involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus when a desired behavior occurs, which in turn strengthens that behavior. For example, if an individual takes pain medication and the pain subsides, the removal of the pain encourages the individual to continue taking the medication when they experience pain in the future.

This concept differs from positive reinforcement, which involves presenting a positive stimulus after a behavior to encourage its increase. Extinction refers to the reduction of behavior when reinforcement is no longer provided, while shaping involves reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behavior to teach complex actions. Negative reinforcement specifically focuses on increasing a behavior by removing an adverse condition, making it crucial to differentiate it from these other concepts.