Negative punishment vs. negative reinforcement
After a teen breaks curfew, her parents take away her phone for a week, and she stops breaking curfew. This is:
Answer D: explanation for every choice
A
Negative reinforcement removes an aversive stimulus and increases a behavior.
B
Positive punishment adds an aversive stimulus, such as extra chores.
C
Extinction is a behavior fading when the reinforcer that maintained it stops. Here something valued is taken away as a consequence.
D
Correct. A desirable stimulus (the phone) is removed, and the behavior decreases.
TakeawayPunishment decreases behavior. Negative means something is removed.
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Reviewed 2026-11-05 by a medical student. Spot an error? Report it with question ID ps97.