Negative reinforcer compared to punishment

[JackSonSmith]

 Is the statement:
'The outcome of punishment is the opposite to removal of a negative reinforcer—punishment weakens the response, or decreases the probability of that response occurring again over time; whereas negative reinforcement has the effect of increasing the likelihood of a response being repeated and thereby strengthening the response.'
 Correct?

Could someone please clarify this? Thanks.

[Scooby]

Negative reinforcement increases the strength or frequency of a response by removing an unpleasant stimulus following its appearance (ie. a negative reinforcer)

Punishment decreases the strength or frequency of a response by either removing a pleasant stimulus (negative punishment) or supplying an unpleasant stimulus (positive punishment) after its appearance

[JackSonSmith]

Thanks. So is a negative reinforcer an action or the avoidance of an undesired consequence.

[t1ffanyk]

A negative reinforcer is a stimulus that strengthens the behaviour by the removal, reduction or prevention of an unpleasant stimulus. For example, you do the homework you were assigned to do to avoid receiving a detention. You're taking away the negative stimulus of the detention by doing the homework (behaviour) which then strengthens that behaviour over time.

Punishment is any stimulus that weakens or decreases the likelihood of the behaviour.

[Joseph41]

Key points to remember:

- Reinforcement = strengthens the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated
- Punishment = weakens the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated

- Positive = provides a stimulus
- Negative = takes a stimulus away

All the best.