Which term denotes using an unpleasant stimulus after a behavior to discourage it?

Which term denotes using an unpleasant stimulus after a behavior to discourage it?

• A. Positive Reinforcement
• B. Negative Punishment
• C. Reinforcement
• D. Negative Reinforcement

Answer: (D)

The effect being described is punishment: you add an unpleasant consequence after a behavior to make that behavior less likely to occur again. This specific form is called positive punishment—the “positive” means adding something aversive, and “punishment” means a decrease in the behavior’s likelihood. It’s different from negative reinforcement, which involves removing an aversive stimulus after a behavior to increase that behavior. It’s also different from negative punishment, where you take away something desirable after a behavior to decrease it. Reinforcement, in general, refers to any outcome that increases a behavior, not to reducing it. In this question, the description points to positive punishment, but that term isn’t among the options. That’s why the listed answer doesn’t align with the described effect.

The effect being described is punishment: you add an unpleasant consequence after a behavior to make that behavior less likely to occur again. This specific form is called positive punishment—the “positive” means adding something aversive, and “punishment” means a decrease in the behavior’s likelihood.

It’s different from negative reinforcement, which involves removing an aversive stimulus after a behavior to increase that behavior. It’s also different from negative punishment, where you take away something desirable after a behavior to decrease it. Reinforcement, in general, refers to any outcome that increases a behavior, not to reducing it.

In this question, the description points to positive punishment, but that term isn’t among the options. That’s why the listed answer doesn’t align with the described effect.