What type of punishment involves adding an undesirable occurrence to decrease a behavior?

The concept described in the question pertains to the idea of positive punishment, which occurs when an undesirable stimulus is introduced after a behavior to reduce the likelihood of that behavior occurring again in the future. This technique is based on the principles of operant conditioning, where behaviors are modified through rewards and punishments.

In the case of positive punishment, the addition of an aversive stimulus serves to discourage the behavior. For example, if a dog barks excessively and a trainer uses a squirt of water to interrupt this behavior, the unpleasant experience (the water) may lead the dog to bark less in the future to avoid that negative consequence.

This method is often contrasted with negative punishment, where instead of adding something aversive, a pleasant stimulus is removed to reduce a behavior. Similarly, aversive punishment may sound synonymous, but it generally refers more broadly to any form of punishment involving an unpleasant outcome. The term "reward punishment" does not hold a standard definition in the context of behavioral psychology and is not a recognized method for altering behavior.

Understanding the distinctions between these forms of punishment and how they function is vital for effectively applying behavioral training techniques.