1. Negative Reinforcement Demonstrated by The Simpsons “Bart and Lisa demonstrate the concept of negative reinforcement here. Negative reinforcement, or a reinforcement contingency where the removal of an aversive stimulus results in desired behavior, gives Bart and Lisa what they want: a visit to Mount Splashmore. After they see the commercial, they follow their father Homer and repeatedly ask him, “Will you take us to Mount Splashmore?” Their constant badgering acts as the aversive stimulus in this case, and Homer eventually caves in so that they stop asking him. Homer shouts in despair, “If I take you, will you two shut up and quit bugging me?” Of course, Bart and Lisa agree. Homer behaves favorable—by saying “yes”—thus, Bart and Lisa stop bothering him. This is how negative reinforcement works. It increases the likelihood of behavior (Homer saying “yes”) when taken away” (Brogan, Chang, Cline, Tso). Contingincies of Reinforcement and Motivational Theries; Brogan, Chang, Cline, Tso; Cornell; http://blogs.cornell.edu/gp08ha1115/)