What is punishment?

• A. A reward
• B. A neutral event
• C. A cue
• D. A consequence that discourages or weakens a behavior

Answer: (D)

Punishment is a consequence that discourages or weakens a behavior. It reduces the likelihood that the behavior will occur again. There are two common forms: positive punishment, where an unpleasant stimulus is added after the behavior, and negative punishment, where a desirable stimulus is removed after the behavior. This is different from reinforcement, which aims to increase behavior, and from a cue, which signals that a behavior may occur but doesn’t by itself change how likely the behavior is. It’s also different from a neutral event, which has no effect on behavior. For example, removing attention after a mistake (negative punishment) or adding a mild adverse consequence after an unwanted action (positive punishment) are both aimed at making that action less likely in the future.