What strategy can be used to effectively decrease an undesired behavior?

Implementing relevant punishment consistently is a strategy used to effectively decrease an undesired behavior because it introduces a consequence that follows the behavior, making it less likely to occur in the future. Punishment can serve as a deterrent by creating a negative association with the undesired behavior.

For punishment to be effective, it should be administered immediately following the behavior and must be consistent. This consistency helps the individual understand the link between their behavior and the consequence, reinforcing the idea that engaging in the undesired behavior will result in an unpleasant outcome. It's important to note that the punishment should be relevant and appropriate to the behavior to ensure that the individual can learn from the experience.

In contrast, strategies such as ignoring the behavior may allow it to continue or even escalate, as the individual does not experience any immediate consequence. Avoiding any consequences entirely fails to provide feedback about the behavior, and encouraging more of the behavior would likely lead to an increase, rather than a decrease, in that behavior. Thus, implementing relevant punishment consistently is a targeted approach to behavior modification.