Which statement describes negative punishment?

• A. Adding something bad to decrease unwanted behavior.
• B. Giving extra playtime after rule violation.
• C. Taking something good away to decrease unwanted behavior.
• D. Providing coping skills.

Answer: (C)

Negative punishment reduces a behavior by removing something valued after the behavior occurs. By taking away something good, the person is less likely to repeat the unwanted behavior because the consequence makes the situation less rewarding. This is exactly what the statement describes: taking away a desirable thing to decrease the behavior.

For example, if someone loses access to a favorite game after breaking a rule, that removal of a reinforcer makes the rule-violating behavior less likely in the future. In contrast, adding something bad would be positive punishment, giving extra playtime after a rule violation would act as reinforcement (potentially increasing the behavior), and providing coping skills addresses skills development rather than serving as a punitive consequence.