Punishment in operant conditioning is best described as

Punishment in operant conditioning is best described as

• A. Negative or punishing event behavior occurs less often
• B. A negative reinforcement that increases a behavior
• C. A stimulus removed to decrease a behavior
• D. A stimulus added to increase a behavior

Answer: (A)

Punishment in operant conditioning means a consequence that makes the targeted behavior less likely to occur again. It can take two forms: adding an aversive stimulus (positive punishment) or removing a desirable stimulus (negative punishment). The broad description that a punishing event decreases the behavior best captures both forms, whereas statements about reinforcement describe increasing the behavior, and removing a stimulus to punish describes only one subtype of punishment.

Punishment in operant conditioning means a consequence that makes the targeted behavior less likely to occur again. It can take two forms: adding an aversive stimulus (positive punishment) or removing a desirable stimulus (negative punishment). The broad description that a punishing event decreases the behavior best captures both forms, whereas statements about reinforcement describe increasing the behavior, and removing a stimulus to punish describes only one subtype of punishment.