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social punishment

a negative interpersonal stimulus, such as shunning, emotional withdrawal, or some other sign of disapproval, that decreases the frequency of the behavior that immediately precedes it. Compare social reinforcement. See also social sanction.

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Psychology term of the day

September 8th 2024

drift

drift

n.

1. a reduction in variation in genetic traits that can occur when sampling from continually smaller groups, such that some traits ultimately become excluded from possibility.

2. a reduction in the reliability of technical instruments orin the accuracy of observers over time. See instrument drift; observer drift.