According to the principles of behaviorism, what typically happens to behaviors that are negatively reinforced?

• A. They remain unchanged because negative reinforcement has no effect on behavior.
• B. They decrease in frequency because negative reinforcement punishes the behavior.
• C. They increase in frequency because the removal of an unpleasant stimulus strengthens the behavior.
• D. They are eliminated immediately due to extinction.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of negative reinforcement in behaviorism: it involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus following a behavior.
2. Recognize that negative reinforcement is not punishment; instead, it strengthens the behavior by making it more likely to occur in the future.
3. Identify that when a behavior leads to the removal of something unpleasant, the behavior's frequency typically increases.
4. Contrast negative reinforcement with punishment, which aims to decrease behavior, and extinction, which involves withholding reinforcement to reduce behavior.
5. Conclude that behaviors that are negatively reinforced increase in frequency because the removal of an unpleasant stimulus acts as a reward.