US High School Psychology Practice Exam 2026 – Your All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

In operant conditioning, reinforcement is a key concept used to increase the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. The correct answer identifies the two fundamental types of reinforcement: positive and negative reinforcement.

Positive reinforcement involves the introduction of a pleasant stimulus after a desired behavior, thereby increasing the chances that the behavior will occur again. For example, a student receiving praise or rewards for good grades motivates them to continue studying hard.

Negative reinforcement, on the other hand, entails the removal of an unpleasant stimulus when a desired behavior occurs. For example, a teacher who allows students to skip homework if they perform well on a test is removing an aversive demand, thereby encouraging students to strive for better performance.

Together, positive and negative reinforcement provide a framework for understanding how behaviors can be shaped and maintained, forming the basis for many behavioral therapies and educational strategies. Other types of reinforcement mentioned in the other options, such as intrinsic vs. extrinsic or primary vs. secondary, refer to different aspects of motivation and stimulus classification, but they do not capture the core functions of reinforcement in operant conditioning as effectively as positive and negative reinforcement do.