Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Practice Test

What kind of procedure is using consequences to decrease the frequency of an undesired behavior called?

1. Positive reinforcement

2. Extinction

3. Negative reinforcement

4. Punishment

The correct answer is: Punishment

Using consequences to decrease the frequency of an undesired behavior is identified as punishment. This concept in behavior analysis involves implementing a consequence that follows a behavior, which reduces the likelihood of that behavior occurring in the future. Punishment can take two forms: positive punishment, which involves adding an unpleasant consequence after the undesired behavior, and negative punishment, which entails removing a pleasant stimulus following the behavior. Both forms aim to decrease the occurrence of the behavior. In contrast, positive reinforcement aims to increase a behavior by providing a desirable stimulus after the behavior occurs, while negative reinforcement seeks to increase behavior by removing an aversive stimulus. Extinction refers to the process of no longer providing reinforcement for a behavior, which eventually leads to a decrease in that behavior, but it operates under a different mechanism than punishment. Thus, the concept of using consequences specifically to reduce unwanted behavior aligns with the principles of punishment in behavior analysis.