FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

Taking away a desirable reward is an example of which type of punishment?

1. Positive punishment

2. Negative reinforcement

3. Negative punishment

4. Positive reinforcement

The correct answer is: Negative punishment

Taking away a desirable reward is classified as negative punishment. This form of punishment involves removing a positive stimulus to decrease the likelihood of a behavior occurring again in the future. For instance, if a child misbehaves and loses access to a favorite toy, this removal serves to discourage the unwanted behavior. The focus here is on the subtraction of a desirable element, which is the essence of negative punishment. Positive punishment, in contrast, involves adding an unpleasant consequence after a behavior, such as giving extra chores for misbehavior. Negative reinforcement entails the removal of an unpleasant stimulus to increase a desirable behavior, such as taking away a loud noise when a student focuses on their work. Positive reinforcement is the introduction of a rewarding stimulus to promote a behavior, like giving praise when a child completes their homework. Understanding these distinctions is key to grasping concepts of behavior modification and operant conditioning.