The term punishment in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis literally means for a behavior to decrease. Remember in ABA behavior is defined as anything one says or does (or anything that can be observed or measured) not just undesirable behavior.

Placing “positive” (+) before the word punishment means that you are adding something to decrease the behavior.

By placing “negative” (-) before the behavior it means you are removing something to decrease the behavior. Here are some examples that you may have experienced.

Positive punishment: You drive fast, you receive a speeding ticket, you no longer drive fast. Something was added (speeding ticket) to decrease your fast driving behavior.

Here’s one for negative punishment: Children are fighting over a toy. Mom takes the toy away. The children stop fighting over toys. Something was taken away (toy) to decrease a behavior (fighting).