punishment (mod5)

• Punishment


  A decrease in the strength, or weakening, of behavior due to its consequence
• Types of punishment


  • Positive punishment
  • Negative punishment
• Positive punishment


  • A behavior is followed by the presentation of a stimulus, or punisher
  • Punishers are generally unpleasant stimuli such as reprimands, shame, electric shock (in laboratory settings), physical blows, failing grades, demotion, and health issues, among others
• Negative punishment


  • The consequence of a behavior is the removal of a stimulus
  • These stimuli are generally pleasant and usually those that people seek out, such as money, privileges, raises, and praise
• Variables affecting punishment


  • Contingency
  • Contiguity
  • Punisher intensity
  • Introductory level of punishment
  • Reinforcement of the punished behavior
  • Alternative sources of reinforcement
  • Motivating operations
• Contingency


  The degree to which punishment weakens a behavior varies with the degree to which a punishing event is dependent on that behavior
• Contiguity

  The interval between a behavior and a punishing event (closeness in time between the behavior and the punisher); the longer the delay, the less effective the punisher is
• Punisher intensity


  The greater the intensity of the punishing stimulus or punishing event, the greater its effects on weakening behavior
• Introductory level of punishment


  Using an effective level of punishment from the beginning is extremely important; otherwise, unwanted behaviors will build tolerance over punishers
• Reinforcement of the punished behavior


  One of the reasons why unwanted behavior persists is that it is usually reinforced; therefore, the effectiveness of a punishment procedure depends on the frequency, amount, and quality of reinforcers the unwanted behavior produces
• Motivating operations


  Effectiveness of a punishment can be increased by performing an establishing operation
• Alternative sources of reinforcement


  The availability of alternative ways of obtaining reinforcement also influences the effectiveness of punishment
• Theories of punishment


  • Two-Process Theory
  • One-Process Theory
• Two-Process Theory


  • Punishment involves both classical and operant conditioning
• One-Process Theory


  • Punishment only involves operant conditioning
• In Two-Process theory, punishment is said to involve both classical and operant conditioning
• In One-Process Theory, punishment only involves operant conditioning
• Problems with punishment


  • Escape/Avoidance
  • Aggression
  • General Suppression of Behavior or Apathy
  • Abuse by the Punisher
  • Imitation of the Punisher
• Alternatives to punishment


  • Response prevention
  • Extinction
  • Differential reinforcement
• Response prevention


  Preventing undesirable behavior from occurring by altering the environment in some way
• Extinction


  Withholding all reinforcement for a given behavior to reduce its occurrence
• Types of differential reinforcement

  • Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA)
  • Differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior (DRI)
  • Differential reinforcement of low rate