Which statement defines positive punishment?

• A. Something is added to decrease the likelihood of a behavior.
• B. Something is removed to decrease the likelihood of a behavior.
• C. Something is added to increase the likelihood of a behavior.
• D. Something is removed to increase the likelihood of a behavior.

Answer: (A)

Positive punishment means adding something aversive after a behavior to decrease the chances that the behavior will happen again. The term “positive” signals that something is introduced, while “punishment” indicates a goal of reducing the behavior. So when you add an unpleasant consequence to a behavior, you’re applying positive punishment. This is different from removing something to decrease a behavior (negative punishment), adding something to increase a behavior (positive reinforcement), or removing something to increase a behavior (negative reinforcement). For example, giving extra chores after misbehavior is a way of adding something to reduce future occurrences, which fits positive punishment.