What is the result of applying an electric shock when a dog does not return to its handler while chasing a deer?

When an electric shock is applied in response to a behavior, such as a dog not returning to its handler while chasing a deer, this constitutes positive punishment. Positive punishment involves adding an aversive stimulus—in this case, the electric shock—with the aim of decreasing the likelihood of the undesired behavior occurring again in the future. The use of an electric shock aims to create a negative association for the dog with the behavior of not returning, thereby encouraging the dog to return in similar situations.

This approach contrasts with the other concepts. Positive reinforcement involves adding a pleasant stimulus to increase behavior, negative punishment removes a pleasant stimulus to decrease behavior, and extinction refers to the reduction of a behavior by ignoring it rather than adding or removing stimuli. Therefore, in this scenario, applying the electric shock can be categorized clearly as positive punishment, as it directly applies an adverse consequence to modify the dog’s behavior.