Positive Punishments

Definition

Positive punishment involves adding an undesirable outcome or consequence after a behavior has occurred to reduce the likelihood of that behavior happening again.

Analogy

Think of positive punishments like getting a speeding ticket. If you drive too fast, you get fined (an unpleasant consequence is added). This discourages you from speeding in the future.

Related terms

Negative Punishment: This occurs when a favorable event or outcome is removed after a behavior occurs. For example, taking away your teen's cell phone for missing curfew.

Discriminative Stimulus: A discriminative stimulus is a type of stimulus that is used consistently to gain a specific response and that increases the possibility that the desired response will occur.

Conditioned Response: A conditioned response is an automatic response established by training to an ordinarily neutral stimulus. Like salivating at the sound of bell because it was previously associated with food.