When does negative reinforcement occur?

Negative reinforcement occurs when an undesirable or aversive outcome is removed after a particular behavior is exhibited, which in turn increases the likelihood of that behavior occurring again in the future. This process is based on the principles of behavior modification, where the removal of something negative reinforces a desired behavior.

For example, if a student completes their homework to avoid negative feedback from the teacher, the removal of that negative feedback reinforces the behavior of completing homework. In this scenario, the student learns that by doing their homework, they can avoid the unpleasant experience of criticism. Thus, the behavior of completing homework is strengthened.

The other options either describe outcomes that do not accurately reflect negative reinforcement or define different behavioral concepts altogether, such as positive reinforcement or punishment. Positive reinforcement, for instance, would involve adding a desirable outcome, not removing an aversive one, while punishment would involve adding an undesirable consequence rather than removing it.