The correct answer is c) response cost.
Response cost refers to a behavior modification technique in which a specific amount of a reinforcer is removed following a behavior, leading to a decrease in that behavior. In the case of parking tickets and fines, when a person parks illegally or violates regulations, they are fined a specific amount of money. This financial penalty is intended to discourage future violations by removing resources (money) from the individual’s possession.
This is distinct from other concepts:
- Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an unfavorable outcome to strengthen a behavior, rather than penalizing it.
- Response chaining refers to the linking together of a series of behaviors, which is not applicable in the context of fines.
- Aversive conditioning involves the use of an unpleasant stimulus to reduce unwanted behaviors, but it does not typically involve the direct financial penalties that fines represent.
Therefore, parking tickets and similar fines are best understood through the lens of response cost, as they involve the loss of monetary resources as a result of certain behaviors.