Some people smoke because smoking is negatively reinforcing for them.An example of a negative reinforcer would be

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement involves removing an unpleasant or aversive stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior. In the case of smoking, the unpleasant stimulus may be anxiety or tension, and the act of smoking removes that unpleasant feeling, therefore reinforcing the behavior. Option A, a reduction in tension, fits this explanation best. Option B, feelings of relaxation, may also be a reinforcer for smoking, but it is not as directly linked to the removal of an aversive stimulus. Option C, satisfaction of manual needs, and option D, odor of tobacco smoke, are not negative reinforcers as they do not involve the removal of an aversive stimulus.

Some People Smoke Because Smoking Is Negatively Reinforcing for Them