Which scenario demonstrates negative punishment (P-)?

• A. The dog jumps on a person; the person turns away or leaves.
• B. The dog sits and receives a treat.
• C. The dog barks and is scolded.
• D. The dog pulls on the leash and is given a leash correction.

Answer: (A)

Negative punishment means removing something the dog values after a behavior to reduce that behavior. In this scenario, when the dog jumps on a person, the person turns away or leaves, removing the attention the dog is trying to gain. Because attention is a reinforcing consequence for jumping, taking it away decreases the likelihood the dog will jump in the future.

Other options involve adding something the dog wants or an aversive, which are not negative punishment. Giving a treat after sitting is positive reinforcement; scolding or leash corrections add an aversive consequence (positive punishment) to reduce barking or pulling, not removing a reinforcer.