In the given scenario, the correct answer is a) negative punishment. When your teenage son breaks his curfew and you ground him for a week, you are removing a privilege (freedom) in response to his behavior (breaking the curfew).
Negative punishment involves taking away something desirable to decrease the likelihood of a behavior occurring again. In this case, grounding him is intended to discourage him from breaking curfew in the future. The term ‘negative’ refers to the removal of a positive stimulus, which, in this instance, is his ability to enjoy freedom and social interactions during that week of grounding. By implementing this consequence, you’re hoping to reinforce the importance of adhering to the established curfew rules.