Which behavior modification method motivates a student to perform a desirable behavior to avoid a negative consequence?

Which behavior modification method motivates a student to perform a desirable behavior to avoid a negative consequence?

• A. Generalization
• B. Negative Reinforcement
• C. Contingent Teaching
• D. Semantics

Answer: (B)

Negative reinforcement strengthens a desirable behavior by removing an unpleasant condition after the behavior occurs. This makes the student more likely to perform the behavior again to escape or avoid the aversive consequence. For example, if a beep or nagging stops as soon as the student starts working, the student learns to work to avoid that unpleasant reminder. The other terms don’t fit this idea: generalization is about applying a learned response to new situations, contingent teaching is an instructional approach that uses consequences to guide learning, and semantics deals with word meaning rather than how consequences shape behavior.

Negative reinforcement strengthens a desirable behavior by removing an unpleasant condition after the behavior occurs. This makes the student more likely to perform the behavior again to escape or avoid the aversive consequence. For example, if a beep or nagging stops as soon as the student starts working, the student learns to work to avoid that unpleasant reminder. The other terms don’t fit this idea: generalization is about applying a learned response to new situations, contingent teaching is an instructional approach that uses consequences to guide learning, and semantics deals with word meaning rather than how consequences shape behavior.