What has occurred when there is a decrease in the likelihood or rate of a target response?
A) punishment
B) positive reinforcement
C) negative reinforcement
D) positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A decrease in the likelihood or rate of a target response is the result of punishment, which involves the presentation of an unpleasant consequence in response to a behavior, leading to a decrease in the frequency of that behavior. Positive reinforcement increases the likelihood or rate of a target response by adding a pleasant consequence in response to a behavior, while negative reinforcement increases the likelihood of a target response by removing an unpleasant consequence in response to a behavior. Positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement both increase the likelihood or rate of a target response, so they cannot be the correct answer.

What Has Occurred When There Is a Decrease in the Likelihood