In operant conditioning, what does "negative" refer to?

In operant conditioning, "negative" specifically refers to the removal of a desired stimulus to decrease the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. In this context, when a desirable item or privilege is taken away in response to a behavior, it serves as a form of punishment that discourages that behavior. For example, if a child misbehaves and loses access to a favorite toy, the removal (negative aspect) of the toy is intended to reduce the likelihood of future misbehavior. This concept is an essential part of how operant conditioning shapes behavior, as it emphasizes the influence of consequences on actions.