What is it called when a response is strengthened by removing an unpleasant consequence?

The correct answer pertains to the concept of negative reinforcement, which is a fundamental principle in behavioral psychology. Negative reinforcement occurs when an aversive stimulus or unpleasant consequence is removed or avoided as a result of a specific behavior, leading to an increase in the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.

For instance, if a student studies to avoid the unpleasant consequence of failing a test, their studying behavior is reinforced by the removal of the anxiety associated with poor grades. This reinforcement strengthens the behavior (in this case, studying) because it is followed by the removal of something uncomfortable.

Understanding negative reinforcement is essential in psychology because it illustrates how certain behaviors can be encouraged not by rewards but by the alleviation of negative conditions. This is different from positive reinforcement, which involves adding a pleasant stimulus to reinforce behavior. Thus, recognizing the distinctions between these concepts helps in applying behavioral principles effectively in various scenarios.