Which example illustrates negative reinforcement as described?

• A. Giving a sticker for good performance
• B. Takes away an assignment if the class performs well on a test
• C. Giving a speeding ticket
• D. Grounding a student

Answer: (B)

Negative reinforcement occurs when an unpleasant condition is removed after a behavior, increasing the chance that the behavior will occur again. Here, when the class performs well on a test, the teacher removes an assignment—something the students want to avoid. That removal of an aversive task acts as a reward for the good performance, encouraging the class to keep aiming for higher test results. The other scenarios illustrate different processes: giving a sticker adds something desirable (positive reinforcement), a speeding ticket introduces an unpleasant consequence to discourage speeding (positive punishment), and grounding removes a privilege to decrease behavior (negative punishment).