What process is designed to decrease the likelihood of a behavior through adverse outcomes?

The process that is designed to decrease the likelihood of a behavior through adverse outcomes is punishment. In the context of behavioral psychology, punishment involves implementing a consequence or negative outcome following a specific behavior to reduce the chances of that behavior occurring again in the future. This is based on the principle that if an individual experiences an unfavorable outcome after engaging in a behavior, they are less likely to repeat that behavior to avoid similar negative consequences.

Punishment can take various forms, such as imposing fines, providing negative feedback, or removing privileges. The key aspect is that it serves as a deterrent, aiming to change behavior by associating negative results with specific actions. This concept is widely applied in various fields, including human resource management, training, and behavior modification settings, to promote desired behaviors while discouraging undesirable ones.