Negative reinforcers strengthen a response by reducing or removing an aversive (

Question

Negative reinforcers strengthen a response by reducing or removing an aversive (unpleasant) stimulus. Go through the following list and identify the aversive stimulus and the behavior being strengthened by its removal.

a. Taking aspirin to relieve a headache.
b. Hurrying home in the winter to get out of the cold.
c. Giving in to an argument or to a dog’s begging.
d. Fanning oneself to escape the heat.
e. Leaving a movie theater if the movie is bad.
f. Smoking in order to relieve anxiety.
h. Following prison rules in order to be released from confinement. i. Feigning a stomachache in order to avoid school.
j. Putting on a car safety belt to stop an irritating buzz.
k. Turning down the volume of a very loud radio.
l. Putting up an umbrella to escape the rain.
m. Saying “uncle” to stop being beaten.

Explanation / Answer

a. The aversive stimulus is the headache and taking an aspirin to relieving the pain, and thus through the reduction of the pain, the action of taking an aspirin each time for a headache is strengthened and reinforced.

b. The cold is the aversive stimulus, and by performing the action of running home, the time spent in the cold is reduced. As a result of this postive consequence, the behavior of running each time one is in the cold is strengthened.

c. The arugument or the begging is the aversive stimulus which causes discomfort. When giving in to it reduces the discomfort, the behavior of giving in is more likely to occur in following situations.

d. The heat is the aversive stimulus and fanning oneself reduces the heat which reinforces the behavior of fanning.

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