Ontario Early Childhood Educator Practice Exam

Negative reinforcement is defined as the process of removing an undesirable stimulus in order to increase a desired behavior. This concept operates on the principle that when a negative condition is taken away after a certain behavior is exhibited, the likelihood of that behavior being repeated in the future increases.

For example, if a child completes their homework to avoid the nagging from a parent, the removal of that nagging (an undesirable stimulus) positively reinforces the behavior of completing homework.

In this context, it is important to distinguish it from positive reinforcement, where something pleasant is added to promote a desired behavior. The other options suggest mechanisms that either involve adding stimuli to affect behavior, or general consequences that do not specifically differentiate between types of reinforcement. Understanding the unique role of negative reinforcement helps educators apply appropriate behavior management strategies in early childhood settings.