A rat presses on a lever, and the electric shock to his feet is terminated. The rat continues to press on the lever. This is an example of ________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is an example of negative reinforcement because the rat's action (pressing the lever) results in the removal of an unpleasant stimulus (electric shock), which increases the likelihood of the behavior being repeated. Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an aversive stimulus to strengthen a behavior.

A Rat Presses on a Lever, and the Electric Shock