Positive punishment is defined as?

Master the concepts of reinforcement and punishment with our quiz. Explore flashcards and multiple-choice questions, complete with hints and explanations. Ace your exam efficiently!

Positive punishment involves adding an unpleasant or aversive stimulus to decrease an undesirable behavior. This approach is based on the principle that when a person or animal experiences something negative as a consequence of their actions, they are less likely to repeat those actions in the future.

For instance, if a child yells in a store and as a consequence receives a scolding from a parent, the scolding acts as a positive punishment intended to decrease the yelling behavior. The key aspect here is the addition of the unpleasant stimulus, which serves to reduce the likelihood of the behavior occurring again.

Other choices describe different forms of behavior modification. Removing a privilege or taking away positive rewards refers to negative punishment, which involves the subtraction of a favorable stimulus to decrease behavior. Offering a reward for good behavior pertains to positive reinforcement, which is aimed at encouraging desirable behavior rather than discouraging unwanted behavior.

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