Final answer:
Positive and negative reinforcement increase behavioral response, while punishment aims to decrease it. Demotions, firings, reprimands, and pay penalties are examples of formal negative sanctions for employee behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
In operant conditioning, positive and negative reinforcement are both types of rewards that increase the likelihood of a behavioral response. Positive reinforcement involves adding something desirable, such as giving a bonus for meeting sales targets. Negative reinforcement involves removing something aversive, such as no longer requiring an employee to work on weekends if they meet performance goals.
On the other hand, punishments aim to decrease a behavior. Demotions, firings, reprimands, and pay penalties are all examples of punishment. They are considered formal negative sanctions in response to employee behavior that goes against the desired norms and expectations of the organization.