Which statement best describes reinforcement in learning?

• A. Positive reinforcement decreases behaviour
• B. Negative reinforcement increases behaviour by removing an unpleasant stimulus
• C. Positive reinforcement always involves punishment
• D. Negative reinforcement involves adding an unpleasant stimulus

Answer: (B)

Reinforcement means making a behavior more likely to occur again by what follows it. The statement that fits best is about negative reinforcement: it increases the behavior by removing an unpleasant stimulus after the behavior happens. For example, the annoying seatbelt alarm stops as soon as you buckle up; removing the aversive sound makes you more likely to buckle up next time. So the key idea is that the consequence reinforces the behavior by taking away something disliked.

The other ideas mix up what reinforcement does. Positive reinforcement would add something pleasant after the behavior to encourage it, like earning praise or a reward, which increases the behavior. It’s not about punishment, which aims to reduce behavior, and it can involve adding or removing something, but not in the sense of reinforcing. And negative reinforcement does not add an unpleasant stimulus; it removes one to increase the likelihood of the behavior.