Any event or stimulus that increases the probability of an operant when it is removed.

Any event or stimulus that increases the probability of an operant when it is removed.

• A. Positive Reinforcer
• B. Environment
• C. Establishing Operation
• D. Negative Reinforcer

Answer: (D)

Negative reinforcement occurs when the removal of an aversive stimulus increases the likelihood of a behavior. The statement in the question matches this exactly: something that, when removed, makes the operant more probable. For example, finishing a task to stop an annoying alarm strengthens the habit of finishing tasks because the alarm stops. By contrast, a positive reinforcer adds something pleasant after a behavior to increase it, an establishing operation alters how powerful a consequence is (but isn’t the consequence itself), and the term environment is too broad to specify a reinforcing process.

Negative reinforcement occurs when the removal of an aversive stimulus increases the likelihood of a behavior. The statement in the question matches this exactly: something that, when removed, makes the operant more probable. For example, finishing a task to stop an annoying alarm strengthens the habit of finishing tasks because the alarm stops.

By contrast, a positive reinforcer adds something pleasant after a behavior to increase it, an establishing operation alters how powerful a consequence is (but isn’t the consequence itself), and the term environment is too broad to specify a reinforcing process.