Topic 6: Punishment

Question 1

Punishment

Answer 1

the process in which a behavior is followed by a consequence that results in a decrease in the future probability of the behavior

Question 2

Punisher

Answer 2

a stimulus or event that, when presented contingent on the occurrence of a behavior, decreases the future probability of the behavior

Question 3

Positive Punishment

Answer 3

a type of punishment in which, contingent on the behavior, an aversive stimulus or event is presented and the probability of the behavior decreases in the future

Question 4

Negative Punishment

Answer 4

a type of punishment in which the occurrence of a behavior is followed by the removal of a reinforcing stimulus, it results in decrease in the future probability of the behavior

Question 5

Time-Out From Positive Punishment

Answer 5

a type of negative punishments in which, contingent with the occurrence of the problem behavior, the person loses access to positive reinforcers for a brief period

typically, the person is removed from the reinforcing environment in a time-out procedure

Question 6

Response Cost

Answer 6

a negative punishment procedure in which, contingent on a behavior, a specified amount of a reinforcer is removed

Question 7

Unconditioned Punishers

Answer 7

a stimulus or event that is naturally punishing because avoiding or minimizing contact with such a stimulus has survival value

no prior conditioning is needed for an unconditioned punisher to function as a punisher

examples are painful stimuli or extreme level of stimulation

Question 8

Conditioned Punisher

Answer 8

a previously neutral stimulus that has been paired a number of times with an established punisher and consequently functions as a punsiher itself

Question 9

Generalized Conditioned Punisher

Answer 9

a conditioned punisher that has been paired with a variety of other punishers

the word “no” is a generalized conditioned punisher for many people

Question 10

What is punishment?

Answer 10

the process in which the consequence of a behavior weakens the behavior

behavior is less likely to occur in the future (frequency), or occurs more slowly (latency)

behaviors are punished, people aren’t

punishment is not the same as revenge

Question 11

What is a punisher?

Answer 11

a stimulus, object, or event that weakens behavior; often is an aversive (unpleasant) stimulus

e.g. your dog poops on the floor, you give him a slap: punishment is giving the slap, the punisher is the pain

Question 12

What is positive punishment?

Answer 12

a situation in which presentation of aversive stimulus decreases behavior

e.g. squirting lemon juice into the mouth of a 4-year-old who frequently bit other children and her teacher

Question 13

What is the application of aversive activities?

Answer 13

requires the individual to perform an aversive activity as a consequence from inappropriate behavior

Question 14

How does the Premack principle apply to punishment?

Answer 14

making a person engage in a non-preferred behavior can serve as positive punishment for performing a more-preferred behavior)

Question 15

What is the application of aversive stimulation?

Answer 15

punishes behavior by delivering an aversive stimulus

e.g. getting an electric shock from device when you reach for a cigarette

Question 16

What is negative punishment?

Answer 16

a situation in which removal of an appetitive stimulus decreases behavior

e.g. music played in a cafeteria during lunchtime would be turned off for 10 seconds if the noise level reached a certain dB level

Question 17

What is a time-out from positive reinforcement?

Answer 17

removes the individual from a reinforcing environment as a consequence for inappropriate behavior

e.g. being grounded after violating your curfew

Question 18

What is response cost?

Answer 18

punishes behavior by taking away a valued item or privilege

e.g. having to pay a fine after parking illegally

Question 19

What are the differences between reinforcement and punishment?

Answer 19

by definition, reinforcement increases behavior and punishment decreases behavior

negative reinforcement is not the same as positive punishment

a “punisher” (aversive stimulus) that is removed causes opposite effects compared to a “punisher” that is presented

Question 20

What are the differences between extinction and punishment?

Answer 20

in extinction. the reinforcer that is maintaining behavior is withheld

in negative punishment, a reinforcer is taken away (or access to it is not allowed); this reinforcer is not necessarily the same reinforcer that is maintaining behavior

extinction: child swears –> parents do not give child attention/ignore child
negative punishment: child swears –> child loses $1 of allowance

extinction produces gradual reduction in behavior, punishment is more immediate

Question 21

What is an unconditioned (primary) punisher?

Answer 21

stimulus or event that is naturally aversive (i.e. bot due to prior conditioning or learning); may have “biological importance”: harmful effects or affect survival

e.g. pain due to electric shock, bright lights, loud sounds

Question 22

What are conditioned (or secondary) punisher?

Answer 22

previously neutral stimulus that has become associated with an unconditioned punisher, and thus also acts as a punisher

e.g. reprimands, threats, warnings

Question 23

What is a generalized conditioned punisher?

Answer 23

conditioned punisher that has been paired with a number of other punishers

e.g. hearing the word “no”

Question 24

How does immediacy effect punishment?

Answer 24

punishment is most effective when it follows immediately after the behavior

e.g. roadside speed traps (immediate citations) are more effective than traffic enforcement cameras (citations come in the mail several days later)

Question 25

How does contingency effect punishment?

Answer 25

punishment is most effective when it follows every behavior

inadvertent reinforcement that occurs during punishment –> behavior increases
e.g. in reprimanding a child for screaming, the parent gives the child attention, which they want; this strengthens the screaming behavior

Question 26

What are motivating operations (MOs)?

Answer 26

events that can (temporarily) alter the effectiveness of punishment, and thus affect behavior

Question 27

What are establishing operations (EOs)?

Answer 27

establishes/increases the effectiveness of punishment

e.g. roadside speed trap located in high-traffic area where others will see you being pulled over

Question 28

What are abolishing operations (AOs)?

Answer 28

decreases the effectiveness of punishment

e.g. adding sweetener to lemon juice squirted into the mouth

Question 29

How do verbal explanations effect punishment?

Answer 29

giving reason for delivery of punishment may enhance its effects

Question 30

How do individual differences punishment?

Answer 30

particular conditioned punishment depends on an individual’s past history, which varies from person to person

Question 31

How does the magnitude affect punishment?

Answer 31

a more intense stimulus is more likely to function as a punisher

e.g. very weak lemon juice solution versus high concentrated solution

however, punishers of extreme intensity do not have a greater effect on behavior

Question 32

What are the pros of punishment?

Answer 32

works rapidly

behavior that may be resistant to other forms of treatment may respond to punishment

there are may beneficial side-effects, such as generalization to other behaviors

may lead to complete suppression of the unwanted behavior

Question 33

What are the cons of punishment?

Answer 33

may cause undesirable emotional or aggressive responses

may cause escape and avoidance responses, these can be strengthened if they create negative reinforcement (removal of punisher)

may induce overuse in the person administering it, due to it producing negative reinforcement

modeling: individual subjected to the punishment may (rarely) learn to use punishment to control others

ethical issues: punishment may violate institutional policies or laws, or may be inhumane