Positive punishment primarily aims to decrease the likelihood of unwanted behavior by introducing a consequence that is unpleasant or aversive following the occurrence of that behavior. This approach is grounded in the principles of behavior analysis, which stipulate that behaviors followed by negative outcomes are less likely to be repeated in the future.
In educational settings, for example, if a student engages in disruptive behavior and receives a reprimand or an additional assignment as a consequence, the intention is to deter that student from engaging in that behavior again. The objective of this technique is not to promote or maintain existing behaviors, but rather to ensure that undesirable actions are less likely to be repeated by applying an aversive stimulus consistently following those actions.
Thus, the focus on decreasing unwanted behavior through the application of consequences aligns with the overarching goals of behavior modification strategies in applied behavior analysis.