What characterizes negative reinforcement?

Negative reinforcement is characterized by the process of removing an unpleasant or aversive stimulus to encourage or strengthen a desired behavior. When an individual engages in a particular behavior that results in the elimination of something negative, it increases the likelihood that the behavior will occur again in the future.

For example, if a student studies hard to avoid getting a bad grade, the removal of the potential bad grade (the unpleasant stimulus) serves as a reinforcement for the studying behavior. This concept emphasizes how the removal of negative experiences can lead to more favorable outcomes, thereby encouraging the individual to continue the behavior that led to that removal.

In the context of the other options, they describe different behavioral principles like positive reinforcement, punishment, or the introduction of aversive stimuli, none of which accurately reflect the concept of negative reinforcement.