Which of the following best illustrates positive punishment in operant conditioning?

• A. A child touches a hot stove and feels pain, making them less likely to touch it again.
• B. A dog is given a treat for sitting on command, making it more likely to sit in the future.
• C. A teenager loses video game privileges after breaking curfew, decreasing the chance of breaking curfew again.
• D. A student receives praise for completing their homework, increasing the likelihood they will do it again.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of positive punishment in operant conditioning. Positive punishment involves presenting an aversive stimulus after a behavior, which decreases the likelihood of that behavior occurring again.
2. Step 2: Identify the key elements in each example: the behavior, the consequence, and the effect on the behavior's future occurrence.
3. Step 3: Analyze the first example: a child touches a hot stove and feels pain. The pain is an added (positive) stimulus that decreases the likelihood of touching the stove again, fitting the definition of positive punishment.
4. Step 4: Compare the other examples to see if they involve adding an aversive stimulus to decrease behavior. For instance, giving a treat or praise are positive reinforcements, and losing privileges is negative punishment (removal of a pleasant stimulus).
5. Step 5: Conclude that the example where an aversive stimulus is added to reduce behavior (child touching stove and feeling pain) best illustrates positive punishment.