If Charles Catania's thinking about reinforcement is applied to punishment, we can say that all of the following are true of punishment except _______.
A) a behavior must have a consequence
B) the consequence of the behavior must be negative
C) a behavior must decrease in strength
D) the decrease in strength must be the result of the behavior's consequence

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Charles Catania's thinking about reinforcement, when applied to punishment, does not necessarily imply that the consequence of the behavior must be subjectively negative; rather, it must lead to a decrease in the frequency or strength of the behavior. The key aspect of punishment, in this context, is its effect on behavior (reduction), not the subjective value of the consequence.

If Charles Catania's Thinking About Reinforcement Is Applied to Punishment