FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What does negative reinforcement aim to achieve according to the operant model?

1. Increase a behavior

2. Decrease a behavior

3. Introduce a new behavior

4. Eliminate all stimuli

The correct answer is: Increase a behavior

Negative reinforcement aims to increase a behavior by removing an unpleasant stimulus when the desired behavior occurs. In the operant conditioning model, negative reinforcement strengthens a behavior because the individual learns that by performing a specific action, they can avoid or eliminate an aversive situation. For example, if a student studies and thereby avoids the stress of receiving poor grades, the act of studying (the behavior) is reinforced since it leads to the removal of that stressor (the aversive stimulus). This approach differs from punishment, which seeks to decrease a behavior by introducing a negative consequence.