June has been avoiding riding elevators since she was 7 years old. When she is with other people, she makes excuses to use the stairs and feels relief upon avoiding elevator rides. June's fear of elevators is being maintained by _____.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

June's fear of elevators is being maintained by negative reinforcement. She feels relief upon avoiding elevator rides, which reinforces the behavior of using the stairs instead. Negative reinforcement refers to the removal of an aversive stimulus (in this case, the anxiety and discomfort associated with riding elevators) that increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring again in the future.

June Has Been Avoiding Riding Elevators Since She Was 7