Applied Behavior Analysis Technician (ABAT) Practice Test

What does positive punishment involve?

1. The removal of a stimulus

2. The addition of a stimulus

3. The withholding of all reinforcement

4. The reinforcement of desired behavior

The correct answer is: The addition of a stimulus

Positive punishment involves the addition of a stimulus following a behavior, which decreases the likelihood of that behavior occurring in the future. The term "positive" refers to the addition of a stimulus rather than an absence or removal. For instance, in a classroom setting, if a student speaks out of turn and subsequently receives a reprimand (the added stimulus), they may be less likely to interrupt in the future. The focus on adding a stimulus as a consequence shows how this approach is utilized to deter undesired behaviors through an aversive event or consequence. The objective of positive punishment is to reduce the occurrence of a behavior by introducing something unpleasant after the behavior occurs.