One of the primary principles of punishment states that
A) punishment is much more effective than reinforcement.
B) punishment is really just another form of negative reinforcement.
C) punishment must never be given contingently.
D) a punisher can be either the onset of an unpleasant event or the removal of a positive state of affairs.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct principle is that a punisher can be either the onset of an unpleasant event or the removal of a positive state of affairs. This principle refers to both positive punishment (onset of an unpleasant event) and negative punishment (removal of a positive state of affairs). Option A is incorrect because punishment is not always more effective than reinforcement, and it can have negative side effects. Option B is incorrect because negative reinforcement is the removal of an unpleasant event, not the same as punishment. Option C is incorrect because punishment should be given contingently, which means it should be immediately following the undesired behavior.

One of the Primary Principles of Punishment States That