Final answer:
An event that decreases the behavior it follows is called punishment, which can be either positive or negative. This contrasts with reinforcement, which always aims to increase behavior, and a secondary reinforcer, which has no inherent value and relies on association with primary reinforcers.
Step-by-step explanation:
An event that decreases the behavior that precedes it is referred to as punishment in the context of operant conditioning. This concept was developed by B.F. Skinner is a form of learning in which the motivation for a behavior happens after the behavior is demonstrated. There are two types of punishment: positive punishment, where an undesirable stimulus is added to decrease a behavior, and negative punishment, where a pleasant stimulus is removed to decrease a behavior.
In contrast to punishment, reinforcement always aims to increase behavior and can also be positive or negative. While a secondary reinforcer has no inherent value and gains its reinforcing properties from its association with primary reinforcers. In summary, the correct answer to the question is 'c punishment'. It is important to not confuse punishment with negative reinforcement, which is the removal of an undesirable stimulus to increase a behavior.