What is the primary function of negative punishment?

Negative punishment involves the removal of a stimulus following a behavior, which leads to a decrease in that behavior's occurrence in the future. The correct choice emphasizes that by taking something away—typically something the individual values—there is a direct effect on reducing unwanted behavior.

For example, if a child loses access to a favorite toy for misbehavior, this removal is intended to discourage that misbehavior from happening again. The key element is that the removal of the stimulus is specifically designed to reduce the likelihood of the behavior being repeated, aligning perfectly with the principles of behavioral modification.

This concept is distinct from other types of reinforcement or punishment strategies that either add stimuli to encourage behaviors or simply alter reward structures without the direct intent to decrease a specific behavior.