,Liberty University PSYC 320 Quiz 10 | Behavior
Modification (2026) Q&A
1. Aversive control is best defined as:
A) The use of positive reinforcement to increase desirable behaviors
B) The use of unpleasant stimuli to decrease or eliminate undesirable behaviors
C) The use of extinction to reduce problem behaviors
D) The use of shaping to develop new skills
Correct Answer: The use of unpleasant stimuli to decrease or eliminate undesirable
behaviors
Rationale: Aversive control refers to behavior modification techniques that rely on the
presentation or removal of unpleasant stimuli to suppress or reduce unwanted behaviors. It
includes punishment and negative reinforcement procedures. Positive reinforcement and
shaping are not aversive techniques.
2. A punisher is defined as:
A) Any consequence that increases the future likelihood of a behavior
B) Any consequence that decreases the future likelihood of a behavior
C) A neutral stimulus presented before a behavior
D) A reflexive response to a stimulus
Correct Answer: Any consequence that decreases the future likelihood of a behavior
Rationale: A punisher is a consequence that weakens or suppresses the behavior it follows.
This is the opposite of a reinforcer, which strengthens behavior. Punishment can be positive
(adding an aversive stimulus) or negative (removing a desirable stimulus).
3. Which of the following is an example of positive punishment?
A) A child is scolded for hitting their sibling
,B) A child loses TV privileges for hitting their sibling
C) A child is praised for sharing with their sibling
D) A child is ignored when they hit their sibling
Correct Answer: A child is scolded for hitting their sibling
Rationale: Positive punishment involves adding an aversive consequence (scolding) after a
behavior (hitting) to decrease its future occurrence. Negative punishment would involve
removing a privilege, and praise or ignoring are not punishment procedures.
4. Which of the following is an example of negative punishment?
A) A teenager is grounded for breaking curfew
B) A teenager loses phone privileges for breaking curfew
C) A teenager is yelled at for breaking curfew
D) A teenager is praised for coming home on time
Correct Answer: A teenager loses phone privileges for breaking curfew
Rationale: Negative punishment involves removing a desirable stimulus (phone privileges)
after a behavior (breaking curfew) to decrease its future occurrence. Grounding and yelling
are positive punishment because they add aversive consequences.
5. The two-process theory of avoidance explains that avoidance behavior is maintained by:
A) Classical conditioning of fear and operant conditioning of the avoidance response
B) Only operant conditioning
C) Only classical conditioning
D) Cognitive expectancies alone
Correct Answer: Classical conditioning of fear and operant conditioning of the avoidance
response
, Rationale: The two-process theory, proposed by Mowrer, states that fear is first acquired
through classical conditioning (pairing a neutral stimulus with an aversive stimulus) and then
the avoidance response is maintained through operant conditioning (fear reduction reinforces
the avoidance behavior).
6. According to the safety-signal hypothesis, avoidance behavior is reinforced by:
A) The termination of the aversive stimulus
B) The reduction of fear through the presence of a safety signal
C) The presentation of a positive reinforcer
D) The removal of a positive reinforcer
Correct Answer: The reduction of fear through the presence of a safety signal
Rationale: The safety-signal hypothesis proposes that stimuli accompanying avoidance
responses (safety signals) become conditioned inhibitors of fear. The reduction of fear in the
presence of these safety signals negatively reinforces the avoidance behavior.
7. In a time-out procedure, behavior modification is achieved by:
A) Adding an aversive stimulus
B) Removing access to reinforcement for a brief period
C) Presenting a positive reinforcer
D) Extinguishing all behaviors
Correct Answer: Removing access to reinforcement for a brief period
Rationale: Time-out is a negative punishment procedure in which the individual is removed
from a reinforcing environment for a short period following a problem behavior. The loss of
access to reinforcement decreases the future likelihood of the behavior.
8. Which theory rejects the importance of instrumental conditioning in the development of
avoidance behavior?
A) Two-process theory
Modification (2026) Q&A
1. Aversive control is best defined as:
A) The use of positive reinforcement to increase desirable behaviors
B) The use of unpleasant stimuli to decrease or eliminate undesirable behaviors
C) The use of extinction to reduce problem behaviors
D) The use of shaping to develop new skills
Correct Answer: The use of unpleasant stimuli to decrease or eliminate undesirable
behaviors
Rationale: Aversive control refers to behavior modification techniques that rely on the
presentation or removal of unpleasant stimuli to suppress or reduce unwanted behaviors. It
includes punishment and negative reinforcement procedures. Positive reinforcement and
shaping are not aversive techniques.
2. A punisher is defined as:
A) Any consequence that increases the future likelihood of a behavior
B) Any consequence that decreases the future likelihood of a behavior
C) A neutral stimulus presented before a behavior
D) A reflexive response to a stimulus
Correct Answer: Any consequence that decreases the future likelihood of a behavior
Rationale: A punisher is a consequence that weakens or suppresses the behavior it follows.
This is the opposite of a reinforcer, which strengthens behavior. Punishment can be positive
(adding an aversive stimulus) or negative (removing a desirable stimulus).
3. Which of the following is an example of positive punishment?
A) A child is scolded for hitting their sibling
,B) A child loses TV privileges for hitting their sibling
C) A child is praised for sharing with their sibling
D) A child is ignored when they hit their sibling
Correct Answer: A child is scolded for hitting their sibling
Rationale: Positive punishment involves adding an aversive consequence (scolding) after a
behavior (hitting) to decrease its future occurrence. Negative punishment would involve
removing a privilege, and praise or ignoring are not punishment procedures.
4. Which of the following is an example of negative punishment?
A) A teenager is grounded for breaking curfew
B) A teenager loses phone privileges for breaking curfew
C) A teenager is yelled at for breaking curfew
D) A teenager is praised for coming home on time
Correct Answer: A teenager loses phone privileges for breaking curfew
Rationale: Negative punishment involves removing a desirable stimulus (phone privileges)
after a behavior (breaking curfew) to decrease its future occurrence. Grounding and yelling
are positive punishment because they add aversive consequences.
5. The two-process theory of avoidance explains that avoidance behavior is maintained by:
A) Classical conditioning of fear and operant conditioning of the avoidance response
B) Only operant conditioning
C) Only classical conditioning
D) Cognitive expectancies alone
Correct Answer: Classical conditioning of fear and operant conditioning of the avoidance
response
, Rationale: The two-process theory, proposed by Mowrer, states that fear is first acquired
through classical conditioning (pairing a neutral stimulus with an aversive stimulus) and then
the avoidance response is maintained through operant conditioning (fear reduction reinforces
the avoidance behavior).
6. According to the safety-signal hypothesis, avoidance behavior is reinforced by:
A) The termination of the aversive stimulus
B) The reduction of fear through the presence of a safety signal
C) The presentation of a positive reinforcer
D) The removal of a positive reinforcer
Correct Answer: The reduction of fear through the presence of a safety signal
Rationale: The safety-signal hypothesis proposes that stimuli accompanying avoidance
responses (safety signals) become conditioned inhibitors of fear. The reduction of fear in the
presence of these safety signals negatively reinforces the avoidance behavior.
7. In a time-out procedure, behavior modification is achieved by:
A) Adding an aversive stimulus
B) Removing access to reinforcement for a brief period
C) Presenting a positive reinforcer
D) Extinguishing all behaviors
Correct Answer: Removing access to reinforcement for a brief period
Rationale: Time-out is a negative punishment procedure in which the individual is removed
from a reinforcing environment for a short period following a problem behavior. The loss of
access to reinforcement decreases the future likelihood of the behavior.
8. Which theory rejects the importance of instrumental conditioning in the development of
avoidance behavior?
A) Two-process theory
