Which of the following decreases the probability of a preceding behavior?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

We start by restating the prompt: the question asks which factor decreases the probability of a preceding behavior, and the provided answer indicates 'punishment.'

First, consider what punishment means in behavioral psychology. Punishment refers to presenting an aversive consequence (positive punishment) or removing a desirable stimulus (negative punishment) following a behavior, with the goal of reducing the likelihood that the behavior will occur again. This aligns with the basic principle that contingencies that make a response less likely tend to decrease its future probability.

Now, in terms of the options that could appear in such a question, the following typical categories behave differently:
- Punishment: generally reduces the probability of the behavior, by introducing an unfavorable outcome or removing something desirable.
- Reinforcement (positive or negative): tends to increase the probability of the behavior; positive reinforcement adds a pleasant consequence, while negative reinforcement increases behavior by removing an aversive stimulus.
- Extinction: involves withholding reinforcement (if the behavior was previously rewarded), which over time leads to a decrease in the behavior’s frequency, though the mechanism is different from punishment because it is not about adding an aversive consequence but about removing reinforcement.
- Punishment is sometimes misunderstood as always effective or consistently reducing behavior in all contexts; in practice, its effectiveness can depend on factors like timing, consistency, the perceived fairness of the outcome, and whether the individual has alternative reinforcement available.

Given the prompt’s assertion that punishment decreases the probability of a preceding behavior, this reasoning supports that outcome under standard operant conditioning frameworks, where contingencies that introduce costs or remove rewards following a behavior are expected to reduce its recurrence.

If other options were present, we would contrast them as follows: reinforcement increases behavior, extinction reduces it via non-reinforcement, and differential reinforcement or shaping modifies behavior through alternative reinforcement schedules, which may not decrease the target behavior directly unless carefully structured. The exact impact of each option depends on the context and the precise definition used in the question.

In sum, punishment is conceptually aligned with a decrease in the probability of a preceding behavior, whereas reinforcement types aim to increase it, and extinction aims to reduce it through non-reinforcement rather than through aversive consequences. The absence of the actual option list limits a complete comparative critique, but the core principle remains that punishment reduces the likelihood of the behavior it follows.

PSYC181_WI25_A00 EXAM 2

Which of the following decreases the probability of a preceding behavior?

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