What is the correct behaviorist term for strengthening a behavior by taking away something?

The behaviorist term for strengthening a behavior by removing something is referred to as negative reinforcement. This concept is integral to understanding how behaviors can be increased rather than decreased, which is a common misconception.

In negative reinforcement, when an aversive stimulus is removed following a desired behavior, the likelihood of that behavior occurring again in the future increases. For instance, if a child completes their homework and, as a result, is allowed to skip chores, the removal of the chore (an undesirable task) reinforces the behavior of completing homework.

In contrast, positive reinforcement involves adding a pleasant stimulus to encourage a behavior, punishment refers to introducing an aversive consequence to decrease a behavior, and extinction involves the diminishment of a behavior when reinforcement is no longer provided. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for effectively applying behaviorist principles in early childhood education.