What type of reinforcers increase the probability that a behavior will occur when they are removed?

Negative reinforcers are defined as stimuli that increase the likelihood of a behavior being repeated by the removal of an aversive stimulus. This means that when the unpleasant condition or stimulus is taken away, the behavior that led to this outcome is more likely to occur again in the future. For example, if a person takes pain medication that alleviates their headache, the removal of the headache serves as a negative reinforcer, making it more likely that they will take the medication again when they experience similar pain.

In contrast, positive reinforcers involve adding a pleasant stimulus to reinforce behavior, primary reinforcers are inherently satisfying and usually biological in nature (like food or water), and secondary reinforcers gain their value through association with primary reinforcers but do not directly involve the removal of something negative. Understanding the mechanism of negative reinforcement clarifies why it effectively strengthens certain behaviors by emphasizing the relief from an undesirable state.