Applied Behavior Analysis Technician (ABAT) Practice Test

Conditioned punishers are characterized by their function as punishers because they have been associated with other aversive stimuli through prior experiences. This means that they acquire their punishing capabilities not inherently, but rather through learning and the context in which they have occurred. For instance, a verbal reprimand can become a conditioned punisher if it has been paired with an aversive outcome, like being scolded for inappropriate behavior.

This concept emphasizes the importance of prior relationships between stimuli in understanding how behavior can be modified. While a conditioned punisher may effectively decrease a behavior, it does so based on the individual’s history with that stimulus rather than an intrinsic property of the stimulus itself.

In contrast, other options present characteristics that are not true for conditioned punishers. They do not require no prior experience (as is the case for unconditioned punishers), they do not always lead to a decrease in behavior, and they are not solely defined by individual perception but rather their established connections with other stimuli.