Which of the following scenarios best exemplifies negative reinforcement in operant conditioning?
A)Tom wakes up just before the alarm clock goes off every morning so that he can avoid having to hear the alarm go off.
B)Dennis buys himself a new game because he gets a "B" on a difficult exam.
C)Miranda treats herself to a massage on her birthday.
D)Sheila goes to sleep early on a night before a test because she knows that this will help her get better grades.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement occurs when a behavior is strengthened by the removal of an unpleasant stimulus or an aversive event. In this scenario, Tom wakes up before the alarm to avoid hearing the unpleasant sound. By doing this, he is strengthening his behavior of waking up early, as he is avoiding the unpleasant stimulus of hearing the alarm.

Which of the Following Scenarios Best Exemplifies Negative Reinforcement in Operant