How does removing the ability to make appointments function as negative punishment?

Removing the ability to make appointments serves as negative punishment because it specifically takes away a privilege, which is the ability to schedule future appointments, in response to undesirable behavior. In the context of behavioral psychology, negative punishment involves the removal of a pleasant or desirable stimulus to decrease the likelihood of an undesirable behavior occurring again. By eliminating this option, the individual experiences a loss that is intended to deter the behavior that prompted this consequence, thereby reinforcing the idea that such behavior is unacceptable.

The other options do not clearly align with the concept of negative punishment. Rewarding patients who make appointments would suggest reinforcement rather than punishment, while flexible scheduling is unrelated to the punishment aspect. Providing additional incentives for later visits implies a positive reinforcement strategy, which contrasts with the idea of negative punishment altogether.