In operant conditioning, when a behavior results in the escape or avoidance of an unpleasant task, the reinforcement category is best described as which of the following?

• A. Negative reinforcement
• B. Punishment
• C. Positive reinforcement
• D. Extinction

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the key terms in operant conditioning: reinforcement and punishment. Reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring again, while punishment decreases it.
2. Step 2: Recognize that reinforcement can be positive or negative. Positive reinforcement involves adding a pleasant stimulus after a behavior, whereas negative reinforcement involves removing or avoiding an unpleasant stimulus after a behavior.
3. Step 3: Analyze the scenario: the behavior results in the escape or avoidance of an unpleasant task. This means the behavior leads to the removal or prevention of something unpleasant.
4. Step 4: Since the behavior leads to avoiding or escaping an unpleasant stimulus, it fits the definition of negative reinforcement, which strengthens behavior by removing a negative condition.
5. Step 5: Differentiate this from punishment (which decreases behavior), positive reinforcement (which adds a pleasant stimulus), and extinction (which involves no reinforcement and leads to a decrease in behavior).