What is Positive and Negative Punishment?
Feb 29, 2024![The Behavior Place Punishment](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/blogs/2147637978/images/a7ad1c-f7d5-e37-0ab4-f4eb172514d_Punishment_The_Behavior_Place.png)
The term punishment in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis literally means for a behavior to decrease. Remember in ABA behavior is defined as anything one says or does (or anything that can be observed or measured) not just undesirable behavior.
Placing “positive” (+) before the word punishment means that you are adding something to decrease the behavior.
By placing “negative” (-) before the behavior it means you are removing something to decrease the behavior. Here are some examples that you may have experienced.
Positive punishment: You drive fast, you receive a speeding ticket, you no longer drive fast. Something was added (speeding ticket) to decrease your fast driving behavior.
Here’s one for negative punishment: Children are fighting over a toy. Mom takes the toy away. The children stop fighting over toys. Something was taken away (toy) to decrease a behavior (fighting).
IT'S ABOUT THE JOURNEY, NOT THE DESTINATION
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