Final answer:
Positive punishment involves adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior, contrasting with negative reinforcement, which removes an undesirable stimulus to increase a behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term for administering an unpleasant stimulus to decrease the occurrence of a specific behavior is known as positive punishment. Contrary to negative reinforcement, which involves removing an undesirable stimulus to increase a behavior, positive punishment adds an undesirable stimulus to decrease a behavior. For instance, scolding a student to stop texting in class represents positive punishment, where reprimand is the undesirable stimulus added to reduce the occurrence of texting.
In the context of a classroom scenario or parenting, positive punishment can be an effective tool for behavior modification. However, it's essential to consider the potential drawbacks, such as inducing fear or increasing aggression in the individual being punished. Instead, negative reinforcement and positive reinforcement, which add a desirable stimulus, are generally more effective at fostering a positive learning environment and promoting desired behaviors.