An unpleasant or noxious stimulus.

An unpleasant or noxious stimulus.

• A. Automatic Reinforcement
• B. Antecedent
• C. Abolishing operation
• D. Aversive Stimulus

Answer: (D)

An aversive stimulus is any event that an individual finds unpleasant or noxious. In ABA, such stimuli are often used as punishers when they are delivered contingent on a behavior, which tends to decrease the likelihood of that behavior in the future. Examples include loud noises, painful touch, extreme heat, or scolding. The other terms describe different concepts: an antecedent is a stimulus that occurs before a behavior and can influence its likelihood; an abolishing operation is a motivational operation that reduces the value of a reinforcer and can increase the frequency of behavior that previously achieved that reinforcer; automatic reinforcement refers to reinforcement that occurs without social mediation.

An aversive stimulus is any event that an individual finds unpleasant or noxious. In ABA, such stimuli are often used as punishers when they are delivered contingent on a behavior, which tends to decrease the likelihood of that behavior in the future. Examples include loud noises, painful touch, extreme heat, or scolding.

The other terms describe different concepts: an antecedent is a stimulus that occurs before a behavior and can influence its likelihood; an abolishing operation is a motivational operation that reduces the value of a reinforcer and can increase the frequency of behavior that previously achieved that reinforcer; automatic reinforcement refers to reinforcement that occurs without social mediation.