Applied Behavior Analysis Technician (ABAT) Practice Test

What type of punisher is classified as a stimulus that is inherently aversive?

1. Secondary

2. Establishing Operations

3. Unconditioned

4. Motivating Operation

The correct answer is: Unconditioned

The classification of a punisher as inherently aversive refers to a stimulus that naturally produces a negative reaction without prior learning or conditioning. This description fits unconditioned punishers, which are inherently aversive and are effective in decreasing behavior immediately upon introduction. Examples of unconditioned punishers include physical discomfort, extreme noise, and other stimuli that can cause negative experiences based on biological responses. The other classifications do not fit this definition. Secondary punishers are those that require prior learning to become aversive, often because they are associated with unconditioned punishers. Establishing operations refer to conditions that alter the effectiveness of a reinforcer or punisher but do not qualify as punishers themselves. Motivating operations describe how the desirability or effectiveness of a consequence is influenced but do not specify the inherent aversiveness of a stimulus. Therefore, unconditioned punishers stand out as inherently aversive stimuli that influence behavior directly in the context of behavior analysis.