FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

Which type of reinforcement involves the removal of an unpleasant situation?

1. Positive reinforcement

2. Negative reinforcement

3. Behaviorism

4. Consequence

The correct answer is: Negative reinforcement

Negative reinforcement is the process that involves the removal of an unpleasant situation or stimulus to increase a desired behavior. This concept is rooted in behaviorism, which emphasizes the role of environmental stimuli in shaping behavior. In practical terms, when an undesirable condition is eliminated following a behavior, it reinforces that behavior, making it more likely to occur in the future. For example, if a student feels anxious about taking tests and is allowed to retake an exam after demonstrating mastery of the content, the anxiety (the unpleasant situation) is removed as a consequence of their improvement, thereby reinforcing their study habits. This demonstrates how negative reinforcement can effectively increase desired outcomes by alleviating negative conditions rather than adding positive ones. In contrast, positive reinforcement involves introducing a pleasant stimulus to increase a behavior, while the terms behaviorism and consequence do not specifically address the aspect of removing an unpleasant situation.