What is described as being subtracted, removed, or taken away from the environment?

The concept being referred to as being subtracted, removed, or taken away from the environment relates to negative reinforcement. In behavioral psychology, negative reinforcement involves the removal of an aversive stimulus following a behavior, which results in an increase in the likelihood of that behavior occurring in the future.

For instance, if a child completes their homework and is then allowed to stop studying, the removal of the studying requirement encourages the child to continue doing their homework consistently. This is because the act of completing homework now leads to the withdrawal of an unpleasant aspect (studying), reinforcing the behavior of completing homework.

This distinction is essential in understanding the principles of behavior modification and how consequences can influence behavior positively.