Which of the following best describes Negative Punishment?

Which of the following best describes Negative Punishment?

• A. Introducing a rewarding stimulus
• B. Removing an undesirable stimulus
• C. Withholding desired privileges to decrease behavior
• D. Providing a verbal reprimand for misbehavior

Answer: (C)

Negative punishment is characterized by the removal of a desirable stimulus to decrease the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. In this context, withholding privileges that a child values, such as playtime with friends or access to a favorite toy, is an effective method of reducing unwanted behavior. This approach hinges on the idea that when a positive aspect of a child's environment is taken away in response to a specific behavior, the child learns to associate that behavior with the loss of something enjoyable. Over time, this can lead to a decrease in the undesirable behavior as the child seeks to avoid losing privileges. In contrast, introducing a rewarding stimulus actually aligns with positive reinforcement rather than negative punishment, which focuses on removing something valuable. Similarly, removing an undesirable stimulus may improve a situation or behavior but does not constitute negative punishment, as it does not involve taking away something the child wants. Providing a verbal reprimand, on the other hand, is an example of a different behavioral strategy that focuses on direct feedback rather than modifying access to privileges.

Negative punishment is characterized by the removal of a desirable stimulus to decrease the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. In this context, withholding privileges that a child values, such as playtime with friends or access to a favorite toy, is an effective method of reducing unwanted behavior.

This approach hinges on the idea that when a positive aspect of a child's environment is taken away in response to a specific behavior, the child learns to associate that behavior with the loss of something enjoyable. Over time, this can lead to a decrease in the undesirable behavior as the child seeks to avoid losing privileges.

In contrast, introducing a rewarding stimulus actually aligns with positive reinforcement rather than negative punishment, which focuses on removing something valuable. Similarly, removing an undesirable stimulus may improve a situation or behavior but does not constitute negative punishment, as it does not involve taking away something the child wants. Providing a verbal reprimand, on the other hand, is an example of a different behavioral strategy that focuses on direct feedback rather than modifying access to privileges.