Constance used to really enjoy playing softball on her school team, but last week she got hit in the head by a line drive, and since then she hasn't wanted to play softball.Based on what is known about operant conditioning, you should conclude that for Constance, being hit by a line drive acted as a:
A)negative punisher for playing baseball
B)negative reinforcer for playing baseball
C)positive punisher for playing baseball
D)conditioned stimulus for playing baseball

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to operant conditioning, punishment is a consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior to be repeated in the future. In this case, being hit by a line drive was a painful consequence that led Constance to stop enjoying playing softball. Therefore, it acted as a positive punisher for playing baseball, as it added an unpleasant stimulus that decreased her desire to engage in the behavior. B and D are incorrect because reinforcement refers to consequences that increase the likelihood of a behavior, and a conditioned stimulus refers to a stimulus that elicits a response as a result of previous learning. A is incorrect because punishment and negative reinforcement are different concepts, and negative reinforcement refers to removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior.

Constance Used to Really Enjoy Playing Softball on Her School