Which of the following scenarios best exemplifies negative reinforcement in operant conditioning?
Sheila goes to sleep early on a night before a test because she knows that this will help her get better grades.
Miranda treats herself to a massage on her birthday
Dennis buys himself a new game because he gets a “B” on a difficult exam.
Tom wakes up just before the alarm clock goes off every morning so that he can avoid having to hear the alarm go off.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is: Tom wakes up just before the alarm clock goes off every morning so that he can avoid having to hear the alarm go off.
Explanation:
In operant conditioning, negative reinforcement refers to the process by which a behavior is strengthened or increased because it allows the individual to avoid or remove an unpleasant stimulus. In this case, Tom’s behavior of waking up just before the alarm goes off is reinforced because it allows him to avoid the unpleasant sound of the alarm ringing. The key characteristic of negative reinforcement is that it involves the removal of an aversive stimulus (the alarm sound) in response to a behavior (waking up early), which makes it more likely that the behavior will be repeated in the future.
Let’s break down the other options:
- Sheila goes to sleep early on a night before a test because she knows that this will help her get better grades: This example illustrates positive reinforcement rather than negative reinforcement. Sheila is engaging in the behavior (going to sleep early) because it is associated with a desirable outcome (better grades). The focus here is on gaining something positive rather than avoiding something unpleasant.
- Miranda treats herself to a massage on her birthday: This is an example of self-reward or positive reinforcement. Miranda is engaging in the behavior (treating herself to a massage) because she enjoys the reward, which is a pleasurable experience.
- Dennis buys himself a new game because he gets a “B” on a difficult exam: Again, this is positive reinforcement. Dennis is engaging in a behavior (buying a game) to obtain a positive outcome (the reward of a new game) following a desirable event (getting a “B” on his exam).
In contrast, Tom’s behavior fits the definition of negative reinforcement because he is motivated by the desire to avoid the aversive stimulus of the alarm.
I’ll now generate an image that visually illustrates the concept of negative reinforcement.
Here is an illustration that visually represents negative reinforcement in operant conditioning. It shows the scenario where someone wakes up just before the alarm goes off to avoid the unpleasant sound. This example highlights how negative reinforcement strengthens a behavior by allowing the individual to avoid an aversive stimulus.
Let me know if you’d like further clarification or any adjustments!