In what way does negative punishment differ from positive punishment?

Negative punishment indeed differs from positive punishment primarily in the methods used to influence behavior, particularly regarding the application or removal of stimuli. In negative punishment, a specific stimulus is removed following a behavior, which leads to a decrease in that behavior. For example, taking away a child’s favorite toy when they misbehave would be considered negative punishment, as it involves the removal of something desirable to reduce the unwanted behavior.

On the other hand, positive punishment involves the addition of an aversive stimulus to deter a behavior. An example of this could be scolding a child for running in the house; here, the scolding is an added stimulus intended to discourage the behavior.

The distinction is critical—in negative punishment, the focus is on what is taken away in response to misbehavior, whereas positive punishment focuses on what is added to discourage the behavior. This clear separation helps in understanding both concepts effectively within the framework of behavior modification.