A child learns not to be rushed for preschool and then continues waking early because of this; which principle is illustrated according to behaviorist theory?

A child learns not to be rushed for preschool and then continues waking early because of this; which principle is illustrated according to behaviorist theory?

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

Answer: (B)

Negative reinforcement is at work here. The child wakes up early because, by doing so, the unpleasant event of being rushed for preschool is avoided. Removing that aversive condition strengthens the waking-early behavior, making it more likely to continue. This differs from positive reinforcement, which would add something desirable to encourage the behavior; here nothing extra is added, only the removal of an unpleasant experience reinforces the action. Punishment would introduce or impose something negative to discourage a behavior, and extinction would cause the behavior to fade if no longer followed by removal of the aversive stimulus.

Negative reinforcement is at work here. The child wakes up early because, by doing so, the unpleasant event of being rushed for preschool is avoided. Removing that aversive condition strengthens the waking-early behavior, making it more likely to continue. This differs from positive reinforcement, which would add something desirable to encourage the behavior; here nothing extra is added, only the removal of an unpleasant experience reinforces the action. Punishment would introduce or impose something negative to discourage a behavior, and extinction would cause the behavior to fade if no longer followed by removal of the aversive stimulus.