Which statement describes positive punishment?

Which statement describes positive punishment?

• A. The removal of something pleasant to decrease a behavior.
• B. The addition of something pleasant to increase a behavior.
• C. The addition of something aversive to decrease a behavior.
• D. The removal of something aversive to increase a behavior.

Answer: (C)

Positive punishment means adding something aversive after a behavior to reduce the likelihood that the behavior will occur again. The idea is that by introducing an unpleasant consequence, the behavior becomes less appealing and is less likely to be repeated. For example, a dog that barks and then receives an unpleasant noise or a scolding after barking is less likely to bark in that situation in the future. This differs from negative punishment (taking away something pleasant to reduce a behavior), positive reinforcement (adding something pleasant to increase a behavior), and negative reinforcement (removing an aversive to increase a behavior). The statement described—adding something aversive to decrease a behavior—fits positive punishment.

Positive punishment means adding something aversive after a behavior to reduce the likelihood that the behavior will occur again. The idea is that by introducing an unpleasant consequence, the behavior becomes less appealing and is less likely to be repeated. For example, a dog that barks and then receives an unpleasant noise or a scolding after barking is less likely to bark in that situation in the future. This differs from negative punishment (taking away something pleasant to reduce a behavior), positive reinforcement (adding something pleasant to increase a behavior), and negative reinforcement (removing an aversive to increase a behavior). The statement described—adding something aversive to decrease a behavior—fits positive punishment.