Which statement accurately defines negative punishment?

Which statement accurately defines negative punishment?

• A. Something desirable is subtracted to decrease a behavior.
• B. A reward is added after a behavior.
• C. An aversive is added after a behavior.
• D. An aversive is removed after a behavior.

Answer: (A)

Negative punishment means taking away something the dog finds reinforcing after a behavior to reduce the likelihood that the behavior will happen again. For example, if a dog begs at mealtime, you withdraw attention or remove access to a preferred toy for a short period after the begging. By removing something desirable, the behavior is discouraged. That’s why the statement describing subtracting something desirable to decrease a behavior is the correct definition. The other ideas describe adding a reward (positive reinforcement), adding an aversive (positive punishment), or removing an aversive (negative reinforcement), which do not define negative punishment.

Negative punishment means taking away something the dog finds reinforcing after a behavior to reduce the likelihood that the behavior will happen again. For example, if a dog begs at mealtime, you withdraw attention or remove access to a preferred toy for a short period after the begging. By removing something desirable, the behavior is discouraged.

That’s why the statement describing subtracting something desirable to decrease a behavior is the correct definition. The other ideas describe adding a reward (positive reinforcement), adding an aversive (positive punishment), or removing an aversive (negative reinforcement), which do not define negative punishment.