Asked by Katelyn (Drew) Rickman on Jun 13, 2024

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What is the difference between punishment and negative reinforcement

A)  Punishment weakens undesirable behaviours, while negative reinforcement weakens desirable behaviours. 
B)  Punishment strengthens undesirable behaviours, and negative reinforcement weakens undesirable behaviours. 
C)  Punishment weakens behaviour, while negative reinforcement strengthens behaviour. 
D)  There is no difference between punishment and negative reinforcement in their effects on behaviour.

Negative Reinforcement

A behavioral concept where the removal of an unpleasant stimulus following a desired behavior increases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated in the future.

Punishment

A process in which a response is followed by a stimulus that decreases the likelihood of that response being repeated.

Undesirable Behaviours

Actions or reactions that are not wanted or are considered negative by society, a group, or an individual.

  • Understand the mechanisms of reinforcement and punishment in behavior modification.
  • Describe the variance between positive and negative reinforcement and their influence on behavioral patterns.
  • Learn about the impact of punitive consequences on behavior and their potential long-term outcomes.
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Shamekia DanielJun 19, 2024
Final Answer :
C
Explanation :
Punishment and negative reinforcement are both types of operant conditioning that aim to decrease the likelihood of a behavior occurring in the future. Punishment involves the presentation of an aversive stimulus (e.g. scolding, spanking) following the behavior, which weakens the behavior. Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an aversive stimulus (e.g. taking away an unpleasant task) following the behavior, which strengthens the behavior. Therefore, while punishment weakens behavior, negative reinforcement strengthens behavior. Choice A and B are incorrect as they do not accurately describe the effects of punishment and negative reinforcement. Choice D is also incorrect as it fails to acknowledge that there is a clear difference between these two types of conditioning.