A manufacturer of modular housing gives each employee a monthly $300 bonus if he or she is neither absent nor late to work for the entire month. There are no excused absences. What type of reinforcement occurs when a parent with a hospitalized child loses their bonus?
A)negative reinforcement
B)extinction
C)punishment
D)intermittent reinforcement

Question

A manufacturer of modular housing gives each employee a monthly $300 bonus if he or she is neither absent nor late to work for the entire month. There are no excused absences. What type of reinforcement occurs when a parent with a hospitalized child loses their bonus?
A)negative reinforcement  
B)extinction  
C)punishment  
D)intermittent reinforcement

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The loss of the monthly bonus would be considered punishment in this scenario. The parent's behavior (attendance) did not meet the criteria for receiving the bonus, and therefore they experienced a negative consequence (loss of bonus). This is an example of punishment, specifically negative punishment.

A Manufacturer of Modular Housing Gives Each Employee a Monthly