Negative punishment involves which of the following actions?

Negative punishment is based on the principle of removing a pleasant stimulus in order to decrease the likelihood of an undesired behavior occurring again in the future. In this context, taking away a pleasant stimulus serves as a consequence for an action that is deemed inappropriate or unwanted. For example, if a pet exhibits undesirable behavior, such as barking excessively, the owner may decide to take away a toy or treat that the pet enjoys. This removal is intended to reduce the occurrence of the barking behavior, as the pet learns that this behavior has a negative consequence.

The other actions mentioned do not align with the concept of negative punishment. For instance, adding an undesirable stimulus pertains to positive punishment, which involves introducing a negative consequence to discourage a behavior. Reinforcing a desirable behavior refers to positive reinforcement, where a pleasant stimulus is given to encourage a behavior. Avoiding a conflict situation does not directly apply to the principles of reinforcement or punishment. Thus, taking away a pleasant stimulus is the defining action of negative punishment and its purpose in behavior modification.