Which accurately describes how punishment and reinforcement differ?

a. Reinforcers, but not punishments, must be specific and immediate to be effective.

b. There is positive and negative reinforcement, but only negative punishment.

c. Punishment teaches what behaviors to avoid as well as alternative responses.

d. Punishment decreases behavior and reinforcement increases a response.

The correct answer is letter D

Reinforcement encourages behavior, while punishment discourages. Both develop learning through what is called operant conditioning, in which behaviors increase or decrease based on the type of result obtained.

Both can be described in positive and negative terms. Positive reinforcement offers something desirable to increase behaviors, while negative reinforcement removes something undesirable to increase behaviors. Positive punishment offers something undesirable to reduce behaviors, while negative punishment removes something desirable to reduce negative behaviors.