Which statement best describes negative punishment?

• A. The dog’s behavior increases because something aversive was removed.
• B. The dog’s behavior decreases because something good is removed.
• C. The dog’s behavior increases due to the addition of a reward.
• D. The dog’s behavior decreases due to the addition of an aversive stimulus.

Answer: (B)

Negative punishment means taking away a reinforcer after a behavior, with the aim of reducing that behavior in the future. The statement that the dog’s behavior decreases because something good is removed accurately describes this: a desirable consequence is withheld following the undesired behavior, making the behavior less likely to occur again. For example, if you stop giving attention when the dog begs, the begging behavior tends to decrease because attention—the reinforcing consequence—has been removed. This differs from negative reinforcement, where removing something aversive increases a behavior; from positive reinforcement, where you add something desirable to increase a behavior; and from positive punishment, where you add something aversive to decrease a behavior.