The suspension of an employee for not following safety instructions is an example of which method of shaping behavior?

The correct approach to this scenario involves punishment, which is a method used to decrease an undesired behavior by applying an adverse consequence following that behavior. In this case, suspending an employee for not following safety instructions serves as a deterrent against future violations of safety protocols. The goal of such a disciplinary action is to highlight the seriousness of adherence to safety guidelines, thereby encouraging compliance among employees.

In contrast to punishment, positive reinforcement involves encouraging desirable behaviors by rewarding them, while negative reinforcement seeks to increase desired behaviors by removing unfavorable stimuli. Extinction would involve eliminating reinforcement altogether to reduce or eliminate a behavior. Since the suspension introduces an adverse consequence to address non-compliance, it clearly falls under the category of punishment, aimed at modifying the employee’s future behavior regarding safety compliance.