Which behavior change tactic, based on positive punishment, requires the learner to perform effortful behavior directly related to repairing the damage caused by the problem behavior?

• A. Time-out
• B. Overcorrection
• C. Response Cost
• D. Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior

Answer: (B)

Overcorrection uses positive punishment by requiring the learner to perform an effortful, corrective action after the problem behavior, and that action must directly repair or improve the damage caused. The idea is to make the consequence of misbehavior involve real, related work—the repair or restoration of the environment or situation—so the cost of the misbehavior is felt in a meaningful way. This right-sized, related effort helps reduce future occurrences by tying the consequence to what was harmed.

Time-out and response cost involve removing access to reinforcement or losing a reinforcer, which are negative punishment, not action-based repair. Reinforcement of an alternative behavior uses positive reinforcement to encourage a different, appropriate behavior rather than punishing the misbehavior with a repair task.