Define negative reinforcement.

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Negative reinforcement is a concept from behavior analysis that focuses on increasing the likelihood of a desired behavior by removing an unpleasant or aversive stimulus following that behavior. This process creates a favorable condition; when the individual engages in the desired behavior, they experience the removal of something unpleasant, which increases the probability that the behavior will occur again in the future.

For example, if a child completes their homework (the desired behavior) to avoid being scolded (the aversive stimulus), the scolding stops when they finish their work. The removal of the scolding reinforces the behavior of completing homework because it leads to a better outcome for the child.

This understanding highlights the importance of the principle of negative reinforcement in shaping behaviors, as it focuses on the effect of pleasant outcomes that are produced when an aversive element is taken away, rather than the introduction of new rewards or punishments.

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