National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) Practice Exam

What is used to increase appropriate behavior by removing a consequence?

1. Positive reinforcement

2. Negative reinforcement

3. Extinction

4. Punishment

The correct answer is: Negative reinforcement

Negative reinforcement is used to increase appropriate behavior by removing an undesirable consequence. This process involves the elimination of an aversive stimulus when a desired behavior is exhibited, thereby encouraging the individual to engage in that behavior more frequently. For example, if a student studies to avoid the anxiety of failing a test, the removal of that anxiety (the undesirable consequence) serves to reinforce the studying behavior. This concept is grounded in operant conditioning, where the focus is on reinforcing behaviors that lead to the removal of negative stimuli. It’s important to note that this is distinct from positive reinforcement, which adds a pleasant stimulus to increase behavior, and does not involve the removal of a consequence for behavior modification. The other options are differentiated based on their mechanisms: extinction involves the reduction of a behavior by withholding reinforcement, and punishment introduces an aversive outcome to reduce a behavior. Understanding these principles helps clarify the role of negative reinforcement in shaping behaviors effectively.