What is the outcome when an operant is strengthened through the removal of aversive stimuli?

• A. Negative reinforcement
• B. Positive punishment
• C. Conditioning
• D. Extinction

Answer: (A)

The process described in the question involves strengthening a behavior through the removal of an aversive stimulus, which is precisely what negative reinforcement entails. In negative reinforcement, a behavior increases because it leads to the elimination or avoidance of an unpleasant or aversive condition. For instance, if a person takes painkillers to remove the pain of a headache, the act of taking the medication is reinforced because it successfully alleviates the discomfort.

In this context, negative reinforcement is specifically about increasing desirable behaviors by removing negative consequences, thus making it a key concept in operant conditioning. It's essential to understand that while negative reinforcement can result in improved behavior due to the removal of aversive stimuli, it is different from punishment, where the goal is to decrease a behavior, not to strengthen it.