NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT __________ RESPONDING; PUNISHMENT __________ RESPONDING.

Sure, let's break down the question step by step.

1. Understanding the Terms:

   • Negative Reinforcement: This is a concept in behavioral psychology where a response or behavior is strengthened by stopping, removing, or avoiding a negative outcome or aversive stimulus. Essentially, it increases the likelihood of a behavior by removing something unpleasant.
   • Punishment: This is a concept where a response or behavior is followed by an aversive consequence, which decreases the likelihood of that behavior occurring in the future.

2. Filling in the Blanks:

   • The first part of the sentence is about negative reinforcement. Since negative reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior by removing an unpleasant stimulus, the blank should be filled with a word that indicates an increase in responding.
   • The second part of the sentence is about punishment. Since punishment decreases the likelihood of a behavior by introducing an unpleasant consequence, the blank should be filled with a word that indicates a decrease in responding.

3. Choosing the Correct Words:

   • For negative reinforcement, the appropriate word is "increases" because it leads to an increase in responding.
   • For punishment, the appropriate word is "decreases" because it leads to a decrease in responding.

4. Final Answer:

   • "NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT INCREASES RESPONDING; PUNISHMENT DECREASES RESPONDING."

So, the completed sentence is: "NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT INCREASES RESPONDING; PUNISHMENT DECREASES RESPONDING."