What is the term for the addition or magnification of a specific stimulus following a response that results in a decreased likelihood of that response in the future?

The term that describes the addition or magnification of a specific stimulus following a response, which results in a decreased likelihood of that response occurring in the future, is positive punishment. In positive punishment, an aversive stimulus is introduced or intensified after an undesired behavior occurs, thereby decreasing the probability that the behavior will happen again.

This principle is rooted in behavior analysis, where the focus is on how certain consequences influence the frequency of behaviors. For example, if a child is given a time-out (an aversive consequence) for misbehaving, the intention is to reduce the frequency of that misbehavior in the future. The effectiveness of positive punishment lies in its capacity to alter behavior by adding an unpleasant stimulus immediately after the behavior occurs.

In contrast, the other terms involve different mechanisms; positive reinforcement adds a pleasant stimulus to increase a behavior, negative reinforcement removes an aversive stimulus to increase a behavior, and negative punishment removes a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior. Each of these terms serves a distinct function within the framework of behavior change.