At one university, faculty members who behave unethically are required to have a meeting with the dean. After their meeting, their unprofessional behavior decreases.

What process does this describe?

A. Positive reinforcement

B. Negative reinforcement

C. Positive punishment

D. Negative punishment

This describes C. Positive punishment.

Explanation:

In Operant Conditioning there are reinforcements and punishments, used to acquire a certain behavior.

Let's understand the terms:

Punishments are introduced when a certain behavior wants to be decreased and reinforcements are introduced when a certain behavior wants to be increased. Positive refers to adding or giving and negative refers to taking away.

In this case when the faculty members' unethical behavior is presented, they are most likely reprimanded by the dean in that meeting, thus a sort of punishment is introduced, making this process a positive punishment.