Negative punishment is a concept in behavioral psychology where a desirable stimulus is removed to decrease the likelihood of a specific behavior recurring. To determine which example best illustrates negative punishment, let's explore a few scenarios and analyze them in detail.

Scenario 1: Taking Away a Child's Toy

Imagine a child is throwing toys around the house, and the parent decides to take away the child's favorite toy for a week. In this case, the removal of the toy (a desirable stimulus) is intended to reduce the behavior of throwing toys. This is a classic example of negative punishment because the parent is removing something the child values to decrease the unwanted behavior.

Scenario 2: Time-Out for a Student

A student is talking out of turn in class, and the teacher decides to give the student a time-out, removing them from the classroom environment. The time-out removes the student from the social interaction and activities they enjoy, which is intended to decrease the behavior of talking out of turn. This is another clear example of negative punishment.

Scenario 3: Fining a Driver for Speeding

A driver is caught speeding and is fined by the authorities. The fine removes money (a desirable stimulus) from the driver, aiming to decrease the likelihood of speeding in the future. This scenario also fits the definition of negative punishment.

Scenario 4: Ignoring a Dog's Barking

A dog barks excessively to get attention, and the owner decides to ignore the barking. By not giving the dog attention (a desirable stimulus), the owner hopes to reduce the barking behavior. This is an example of negative punishment because the removal of attention is intended to decrease the barking.

Scenario 5: Revoking Internet Privileges

A teenager spends too much time on the internet and neglects their homework. The parent decides to revoke the teenager's internet privileges for a week. The removal of internet access (a desirable stimulus) is intended to decrease the behavior of neglecting homework. This is another instance of negative punishment.

Analysis and Conclusion

All the scenarios above illustrate negative punishment, but the most straightforward and commonly cited example is the first one: taking away a child's toy. This example clearly demonstrates the removal of a desirable stimulus (the toy) to decrease an unwanted behavior (throwing toys). It is easy to understand and directly applies the principles of negative punishment.

Therefore, the example that best illustrates negative punishment is taking away a child's toy to reduce the behavior of throwing toys. This scenario effectively shows how removing a valued item can lead to a decrease in the targeted behavior, aligning perfectly with the definition of negative punishment.