Nicky tends to bite his nails when he becomes nervous because it calms him down. Nicky's behavior is an example of _______________

A) negative reinforcement
B) generalization
C) classical conditioning
D) shaping

Answer: A
Rationale: Negative reinforcement involves the strengthening of a behavior because it removes or diminishes a stimulus. In this example, because Nicky's behavior of biting his nails is followed by a decrease in nervousness, Nicky is more likely to continue biting his nails.