Final answer:
Informal negative sanctions are automatic punishers resulting from the behavior itself, while formal negative sanctions are socially mediated punishments enforced by individuals or institutions. An example of the former could be a burn from touching a hot stove, whereas the latter might involve a student being expelled for rule violations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks about the difference between punishers that are an automatic aversive outcome of behavior and punishers that are socially mediated. Punishers that result from an automatic aversive outcome are typically called informal negative sanctions. These are not mediated by any social process but occur naturally as a direct response to the behavior. For instance, if someone touches a hot stove, the resulting burn is an automatic punisher for the action. On the other hand, socially mediated punishers, also known as formal negative sanctions, are enforced by social institutions or other individuals within society. Examples of this include a student being expelled for violating school rules or an employee being fired for inappropriate conduct.
The enforcement of norms through rewards and punishments, known as sanctions, is a significant aspect of social control. They can be positive or negative, with positive sanctions rewarding conformity to norms, and negative sanctions punishing violations.