Positive punishment
Adding a stimulus immediately after a behavior, with the result that the behavior occurs less often in the future.
Positive punishment has two parts: something is added (presented) right after the behavior, and the behavior then decreases in the future. "Positive" means added, not good. Examples include verbal reprimands, overcorrection, and contingent effort such as having to complete an extra task, but each of these counts as positive punishment only if it actually reduces the behavior for that person.
Everyday examples help with the logic: touching a hot stove adds pain, and touching the stove becomes less likely. In clinical settings, positive punishment procedures are among the most intrusive options. Because they present stimuli that may be aversive, they are more likely to produce side effects such as emotional responding, aggression, and escape or avoidance of the person who delivers them. They also do not teach a replacement behavior.
For these reasons, positive punishment is considered only after less intrusive, reinforcement-based approaches have been tried or judged insufficient, and only by the supervisor in a written plan with any required consent and review. Under the RBT Ethics Code (2.0), the RBT implements punishment-based procedures only when they are included in the documented plan and after the supervisor has verified competence.
The RBT delivers the procedure exactly as written, calmly and consistently, records every application, and reports side effects or concerns immediately.
Example and non-example
| Example | A client writes on the walls. The plan includes restitutional overcorrection, so the RBT has the client wash the marked wall and a nearby section. Writing on the walls decreases. |
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| Non-example | A client's chore is taken away whenever they complete their homework on time, and on-time homework increases. Something was removed and behavior increased, which is negative reinforcement, not positive punishment. |
Don't confuse it with
| Positive reinforcement | Both add a stimulus after behavior, but positive reinforcement increases the behavior while positive punishment decreases it. |
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| Negative punishment | Both decrease behavior, but negative punishment removes a stimulus while positive punishment adds one. |
Test yourself
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Question 1Which description fits positive punishment?
Show answer
B: A stimulus is added after a behavior, and the behavior decreases. "Positive" means something is added; "punishment" means the behavior decreases. Positive punishment adds a stimulus after the behavior, and the behavior occurs less often.
- A: Removing a stimulus to reduce behavior is negative punishment.
- C: Adding a stimulus that increases behavior is positive reinforcement.
- D: Removing a stimulus that increases behavior is negative reinforcement.
Task D.5 · 40-hour curriculum section E
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Question 2Each time a client throws food, the caregiver says a firm "No throwing," as the plan describes. Over the next two weeks, food throwing decreases. Which principle best describes this?
Show answer
A: Positive punishment. A reprimand is added after the behavior, and the behavior decreases. That is positive punishment.
- B: Nothing is taken away; a reprimand is added.
- C: Positive reinforcement would increase food throwing, but it decreased.
- D: Something is delivered after the behavior, so this is not extinction.
Task D.5 · 40-hour curriculum section E
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Question 3Overcorrection is classified as which kind of procedure?
Show answer
C: Positive punishment. Overcorrection adds effortful behavior (restitution or positive practice) after the misbehavior to reduce it, so it is a positive punishment procedure.
- A: Overcorrection adds effortful activity; it does not remove a reinforcer.
- B: Negative reinforcement increases behavior by removing a stimulus.
- D: Differential reinforcement delivers reinforcement for some responses and not others.
Task D.5 · 40-hour curriculum section E
Answer every question to see your score.
On the RBT exam
This term belongs to task D.5 Positive and negative punishment in content area D, Behavior Reduction, which is 14 of the 75 scored questions.