What defines negative punishment?

Negative punishment is defined as the removal of a reinforcing stimulus following a specific behavior, leading to a decrease in the likelihood of that behavior occurring in the future. This process aims to modify behavior by taking away something desirable in response to an undesired action. For instance, if a child loses access to their favorite toy when they engage in disruptive behavior, the removal of the toy serves as negative punishment, prompting the child to reduce such behavior in the future.

The other concepts presented are related to different behavioral techniques. The addition of a reinforcing stimulus pertains to positive reinforcement, where a desirable outcome encourages the repetition of a behavior. The presentation of an aversive stimulus refers to positive punishment, which involves introducing an unpleasant experience to deter a behavior. Finally, reinforcing alternative behaviors is focused on promoting positive actions rather than punishing undesired ones, and while beneficial, it does not align with the definition of negative punishment.