In operant conditioning, what happens to behavior that is followed by a punisher?

In operant conditioning, the presence of a punisher following a specific behavior leads to a decrease in the likelihood of that behavior occurring in the future. Punishment is designed to reduce unwanted behaviors by introducing a negative consequence or removing a positive stimulus after the behavior is exhibited.

When a behavior is punished, it can create a strong association in the individual’s mind between that behavior and the unpleasant outcome of the punishment. As a result, individuals are less inclined to repeat such behavior to avoid experiencing the same negative consequences again.

This principle is a foundational aspect of operant conditioning, where reinforcement strengthens behavior while punishment diminishes it. The overall goal of punishment in this context is to decrease the frequency of undesirable behaviors, making the correct answer clearly aligned with established understanding in behavioral psychology.