The term "Negative reinforcement" is a very bad choice of words. Since the word "negative" usually conjures up an image of pain, most people think that negative reinforcement and punishment are the same. As a result, most students will miss a question on negative reinforcement by forgetting that negative reinforcement will strengthen the response that it follows [not weaken it]" Click the bottle of magic potion to see that negative reinforcement and punishment have opposite effects

Click for a chart that shows the different effects.

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