What is a consequence of positive punishment?

Positive punishment involves the addition of an aversive stimulus following a behavior, with the intention of decreasing the likelihood of that behavior occurring in the future. For example, if a child touches a hot stove and feels pain, the discomfort serves as a form of positive punishment, making it less likely that the child will engage in that behavior again. This aligns with the premise of reducing the chance of the behavior occurring, as the goal is to discourage unwanted actions through the use of unpleasant consequences.

In this context, it is important to recognize that positive punishment does not aim to promote new behaviors, make the individual more likely to repeat certain actions, or be completely neutral in its effect. Rather, it systematically diminishes undesirable behaviors through the introduction of a consequence that is not pleasant to the individual.