Any stimulus that follows a response and decreases the frequency of that response over time is called a
A) positive reinforcer.
B) negative reinforcer.
C) punisher.
D) discriminative stimulus.
E) response cost.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A punisher is any stimulus that follows a response and decreases the likelihood of that response occurring in the future, which matches the definition provided in the question. Positive and negative reinforcers increase the frequency of a behavior, a discriminative stimulus signals the availability of reinforcement, and response cost involves the removal of a positive stimulus, but it is not defined by decreasing the frequency of a response through its presentation.

Any Stimulus That Follows a Response and Decreases the Frequency