Question

Taking painkillers eliminates pain, increasing the likelihood that the person will take painkillers again. This is an example of ____________.

• A. negative punishment
• B. positive reinforcement
• C. negative reinforcement
• D. positive punishment

Hint:

Reinforcement \textbf{increases} behavior (positive = add good; negative = remove bad). Punishment \textbf{decreases} behavior (positive = add bad; negative = remove good).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Definition: {Negative reinforcement} increases a behavior by removing an aversive stimulus.
Apply to the case: Taking a painkiller (behavior) $\Rightarrow$ removes pain (aversive) $\Rightarrow$ person is more likely to repeat the behavior. Hence, negative reinforcement.
Why others are wrong:
(B) Positive reinforcement adds a pleasant stimulus to increase behavior (not removal).
(A) Negative punishment removes a pleasant stimulus to {decrease} behavior.
(D) Positive punishment adds an unpleasant stimulus to {decrease} behavior.
Thus, the correct choice is \fbox{(C)}.