Which of the following best describes negative reinforcement?

Negative reinforcement is best described as the process of removing an aversive stimulus to increase the likelihood of a particular behavior occurring again in the future. In this context, an aversive stimulus is something that a person finds unpleasant or uncomfortable, and by removing it, the individual experiences relief, which reinforces the behavior that preceded the removal.

For instance, if an individual takes medication to relieve pain (the aversive stimulus), and as a result, they are more likely to take the medication again in the future when experiencing pain, this is an example of negative reinforcement. The key point is that a behavior is strengthened because its occurrence leads to the removal of something undesirable.

Other options focus on different concepts, such as adding stimuli to influence behavior or strategies to eliminate behaviors rather than reinforcing them through the removal of negative conditions. Understanding negative reinforcement is crucial as it highlights how behaviors can be increased not just through positive outcomes, but also by alleviating discomfort.