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negative reinforcement
This term is a technical concept from behavioral psychology, specifically operant conditioning. It is frequently confused with punishment, but they are opposites: punishment aims to decrease a behavior, whereas negative reinforcement aims to increase a behavior by removing an aversive condition. The word negative here refers to the subtraction or removal of a stimulus, not a negative outcome.
In professional and academic settings, it is used to describe mechanisms of motivation based on relief or avoidance. In casual conversation, people often mistakenly use it to mean "criticism" or "negative feedback," which is semantically incorrect in a psychological context.
Meanings
The process of strengthening a behavior by removing or avoiding an unpleasant stimulus when that behavior is performed.
The employee's habit of arriving early was a result of negative reinforcement, as it allowed him to avoid the stress of morning traffic.