Which of the following is an example of positive punishment?

Which of the following is an example of positive punishment?

• A. Giving a dog a treat for obeying
• B. Scolding a dog for jumping on the furniture
• C. Ignoring a child who is misbehaving
• D. Rewarding a student for good grades

Answer: (B)

Positive punishment involves the application of a stimulus following a behavior that decreases the likelihood of that behavior occurring again in the future. In this case, scolding a dog for jumping on the furniture introduces an aversive consequence (the scolding) that discourages the unwanted behavior (jumping on the furniture). When a dog receives a scolding for an action, it becomes associated with the negative feedback, prompting the dog to refrain from that behavior in the future to avoid the unpleasant experience. This application of an aversive stimulus is key to the definition of positive punishment, making it an effective example of this concept in action. In contrast, other options illustrate different concepts. Giving a dog a treat for obeying is an example of positive reinforcement, which aims to increase a desired behavior. Ignoring a misbehaving child represents extinction, as it removes attention (a reinforcer), which may reduce the behavior over time. Rewarding a student for good grades is also positive reinforcement, as it encourages the continuation of achieving good grades. Thus, the selected example clearly demonstrates the principles of positive punishment.

Positive punishment involves the application of a stimulus following a behavior that decreases the likelihood of that behavior occurring again in the future. In this case, scolding a dog for jumping on the furniture introduces an aversive consequence (the scolding) that discourages the unwanted behavior (jumping on the furniture).

When a dog receives a scolding for an action, it becomes associated with the negative feedback, prompting the dog to refrain from that behavior in the future to avoid the unpleasant experience. This application of an aversive stimulus is key to the definition of positive punishment, making it an effective example of this concept in action.

In contrast, other options illustrate different concepts. Giving a dog a treat for obeying is an example of positive reinforcement, which aims to increase a desired behavior. Ignoring a misbehaving child represents extinction, as it removes attention (a reinforcer), which may reduce the behavior over time. Rewarding a student for good grades is also positive reinforcement, as it encourages the continuation of achieving good grades. Thus, the selected example clearly demonstrates the principles of positive punishment.