Anna's mother scolds her for lying. Anna's mother is using

• A. punishment by application.
• B. punishment by removal.
• C. positive reinforcement.
• D. negative reinforcement.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the behavior that is being addressed: In this case, Anna's behavior of lying.
2. Understand the concept of 'punishment by application': This involves adding an unpleasant consequence after a behavior to decrease the likelihood of that behavior occurring again.
3. Consider the action taken by Anna's mother: She scolds Anna, which is an unpleasant consequence added after the behavior.
4. Differentiate between the types of reinforcement and punishment: Positive reinforcement adds a pleasant stimulus to increase behavior, negative reinforcement removes an unpleasant stimulus to increase behavior, punishment by removal takes away a pleasant stimulus to decrease behavior, and punishment by application adds an unpleasant stimulus to decrease behavior.
5. Conclude that Anna's mother is using 'punishment by application' because she is adding an unpleasant consequence (scolding) to decrease the behavior of lying.