Negative reinforcement is where an unpleasant stimulus is applied continuously and stopped only when the desired behavior is displayed.
O.K. Educate me. This sounds like a distinction without a difference.
The negative reinforcement was the storm of emails, tweets, and facebook posts condemning Cracker Barrel (an unpleasant stimulus, applied continuously) which should now be stopped now that the desired behavior (reinstating Phil Robertson imaged products for sale) is displayed.
“O.K. Educate me. This sounds like a distinction without a difference.”
Look, I’m not trying to be “that guy,” but I did study this crap in college. If you don’t want to hear it from me, look it up.