Final answer:
The situation described is best described as positive punishment, where an undesirable stimulus is added to decrease a behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
The situation described in the question is best described as positive punishment. In operant conditioning, positive punishment refers to the addition of an undesirable stimulus to decrease a behavior. In this scenario, Althea's parents scolding her each time she interrupts acts as a punishment, which aims to decrease her interrupting behavior. By associating the scolding with the interruption, Althea learns that interrupting leads to a negative consequence and is therefore less likely to engage in this behavior in the future.