Which statement best describes the difference between Negative Reinforcement and Punishment?

The statement accurately captures the distinction between Negative Reinforcement and Punishment in behavioral psychology. Negative Reinforcement is a process that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated by removing an aversive stimulus when the desired behavior occurs. For example, if a student completes their homework to avoid a scolding, the removal of that unpleasant experience reinforces the behavior of doing homework in the future.

In contrast, Punishment serves to decrease the likelihood of a behavior being repeated by introducing an aversive consequence or removing a pleasant stimulus following the behavior. For instance, if a child touches a hot stove and feels pain, the pain reduces the likelihood of touching the stove again in the future.

Thus, Negative Reinforcement strengthens behavior by providing relief from discomfort, while Punishment weakens behavior by introducing a negative consequence. Understanding this distinction is crucial for effectively applying these concepts in various educational and behavioral contexts.