Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Negative punishment is a behavior modification technique that involves the removal of a desirable stimulus to decrease the likelihood of a particular behavior.
A type of learning where behavior is controlled by consequences. Key concepts in operant conditioning are positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment.
In psychology, extinction refers to the gradual weakening of a conditioned response that results in the behavior decreasing or disappearing.
Aversive Stimulus: An unpleasant event that is intended to decrease the probability of a behavior when it is presented as a consequence (e.g., scolding, spanking).