In the context of theories of emotion, a reward or punishment that encourages people to behave in a certain way is called a(n):

• A. arousal
• B. incentive
• C. instinct
• D. drive

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the question is asking for a term in theories of emotion that describes a reward or punishment that motivates behavior.
2. Recall that in psychology, an 'incentive' is defined as an external stimulus or reward that encourages a particular behavior.
3. Differentiate 'incentive' from other options: 'arousal' refers to physiological activation, 'instinct' refers to innate behaviors, and 'drive' refers to internal states of tension.
4. Recognize that the correct term for an external motivator like a reward or punishment is 'incentive'.
5. Conclude that the answer to the question is 'incentive' because it best fits the description of a reward or punishment encouraging behavior.