Negative reinforcement is a concept in operant conditioning, a type of learning described by B.F. Skinner. It involves the removal of an unpleasant or aversive stimulus to increase the likelihood that a behavior will be repeated.

In other words, a behavior is strengthened because it results in the elimination or reduction of something undesirable.

Example: Imagine a scenario where a person experiences a loud, annoying noise (aversive stimulus) whenever they leave their seatbelt unfastened in a car. Buckling the seatbelt stops the noise. Over time, the person is likely to buckle the seatbelt promptly to avoid the noise, thus the behavior of fastening the seatbelt is negatively reinforced.

Extinction of a Negatively Reinforced Behavior

Extinction in operant conditioning refers to the process by which a previously reinforced behavior is weakened and eventually stops occurring when the reinforcement is no longer provided.

In the context of negative reinforcement, extinction occurs when the aversive stimulus is no longer removed following the behavior. When the behavior no longer results in the removal of the unpleasant condition, the behavior will gradually diminish.

Example of Extinction: Continuing with the seatbelt example, suppose the car’s warning system malfunctions and the noise persists even when the seatbelt is fastened. The person’s behavior of fastening the seatbelt is no longer effective in stopping the noise. Over time, the person may stop fastening the seatbelt promptly because the behavior no longer removes the aversive stimulus (the noise), leading to the extinction of the negatively reinforced behavior.

Key Points in the Extinction Process:

1. Initial Increase in Behavior: Often, there is a temporary increase in the frequency or intensity of the behavior (an extinction burst) when the reinforcement is first removed. This is because the individual tries harder to obtain the expected reinforcement.
2. Gradual Decline: If the aversive stimulus continues to be present regardless of the behavior, the frequency of the behavior will gradually decrease as the individual learns that the behavior no longer leads to the removal of the unpleasant condition.
3. Possible Frustration or Aggression: The individual might display signs of frustration or even aggression when the expected negative reinforcement is no longer available.
4. Spontaneous Recovery: Occasionally, the behavior may reappear after it has been extinguished, but if the negative reinforcement is still not provided, the behavior will diminish again.