National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level 2 (NCAC II) Practice Exam Exam

What does negative reinforcement involve?

1. Adding an unpleasant stimulus to increase behavior

2. Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase behavior

3. Adding a pleasant stimulus to decrease behavior

4. Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease behavior

The correct answer is: Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase behavior

Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus in order to increase a desired behavior. This psychological concept is rooted in operant conditioning, where behaviors can be influenced by the consequences that follow them. In this case, when an aversive condition or stimulus is taken away, it creates a more favorable environment which encourages the individual to engage more frequently in the behavior that resulted in that removal. For example, if a person takes medication to alleviate discomfort, the removal of that discomfort serves to reinforce the behavior of taking the medication. This demonstrates how eliminating a negative factor can promote a desired action. The other options describe different forms of behavioral influence. Introducing an unpleasant stimulus to increase behavior represents positive punishment rather than negative reinforcement. Adding a pleasant stimulus to decrease behavior aligns with concepts of positive punishment as well, while removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease behavior typically refers to negative punishment. Together, these distinctions highlight how nuances in operant conditioning affect behavior in various contexts.