Negative Reinforcement

Negative reinforcement is a concept in behaviorism where a behavior is strengthened by removing or avoiding an unpleasant stimulus following the behavior. In language learning, negative reinforcement can be used to encourage desired behaviors by removing negative consequences. For example, a teacher might reduce the number of practice drills for a student who consistently completes assignments on time, thereby reinforcing timely submission. It is important to distinguish negative reinforcement from punishment; the former aims to increase positive behaviors, while the latter seeks to decrease unwanted behaviors.