The removal of a pleasant stimulus following a behavior to decrease the likelihood that the behavior will occur again. This involves taking away something desirable as a consequence of undesired behavior.
Formalized by B.F. Skinner in the 1950s, combining 'negative' (removal) with 'punishment.' Also known as 'penalty training' or 'response cost,' this concept highlighted how punishment could work through loss rather than just through adding aversive stimuli.
Negative punishment is like getting your phone taken away or losing privileges - it works by removing good things rather than adding bad ones. Time-outs are negative punishment because you're removing the child from fun activities, not adding something unpleasant. It's often more effective and less emotionally damaging than positive punishment!
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