The initial stage of a training method that uses removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior is best described as

• A. Escape Training
• B. Negative Reinforcement
• C. Positive Reinforcement
• D. Punishment

Answer: (B)

Negative reinforcement is the idea here: a behavior is strengthened because it results in the removal of an unpleasant stimulus. In the initial stage of this training, performing the desired action leads to relief from the aversive condition, so that action becomes more likely to occur again. This contrasts with positive reinforcement, which strengthens behavior by adding something pleasant after the action, and with punishment, which aims to decrease behavior by presenting something unpleasant or removing something desirable. Escape training is a specific instance of negative reinforcement where the subject’s response ends an ongoing aversive stimulus; the underlying mechanism remains the removal of the unpleasant condition to increase the behavior.