(P+) An aversive is added

(P+) An aversive is added

• A. a reward is added
• B. an aversive is added
• C. a reward is subtracted
• D. an aversive is subtracted

Answer: (B)

The message being tested is how the term P+ is used in behavior terms: adding something to influence behavior. When P+ is used, it refers to positive punishment, which means you add an aversive after a behavior to decrease the chance that the behavior will occur again. So describing the scenario as “an aversive is added” correctly captures the idea of positive punishment: the aversive is introduced to reduce the undesired behavior. This is distinct from adding a reward to increase a behavior (positive reinforcement), removing an aversive to increase a behavior (negative reinforcement), or removing a reward to decrease a behavior (negative punishment).

The message being tested is how the term P+ is used in behavior terms: adding something to influence behavior. When P+ is used, it refers to positive punishment, which means you add an aversive after a behavior to decrease the chance that the behavior will occur again. So describing the scenario as “an aversive is added” correctly captures the idea of positive punishment: the aversive is introduced to reduce the undesired behavior. This is distinct from adding a reward to increase a behavior (positive reinforcement), removing an aversive to increase a behavior (negative reinforcement), or removing a reward to decrease a behavior (negative punishment).