Reducing unwanted behaviours

Question 1

What is positive punishment?

Answer 1

A response causes an aversive outcome, decreasing the likelihood of that response.

Question 2

What is negative punishment?

Answer 2

A response removes a desirable outcome, decreasing the likelihood of that response.

Question 3

Why might punishment be considered necessary in society?

Answer 3

To maintain social order and teach individuals to respect boundaries and others’ rights.

Question 4

Why might punishment be considered necessary in parenting?

Answer 4

To guide children toward prosocial behaviour and help them learn social norms.

Question 5

What factors make punishment effective?

Answer 5

• Immediacy: Punishment must follow the behaviour quickly.
• Consistency: Punishment must occur reliably.
• Contingency: Punishment must be clearly linked to the behaviour.
• Intensity: Must be strong enough to suppress behaviour but not excessive.
• Availability of Alternatives: Providing a non-punished response improves effectiveness.

Question 6

What is the Yerkes-Dodson Law?

Answer 6

Moderate arousal improves learning and performance; too little or too much impairs it.

Question 7

What are risks associated with punishment?

Answer 7

1. Suppression of all behaviour (not just the target).
2. Increased anxiety and emotional distress.
3. Risk of aggression.
4. Avoidance of the punishing agent.
5. Modelling of violence.
6. Learned helplessness from non-contingent punishment.

Question 8

What makes punishment safer and more effective?

Answer 8

• Use rarely and only when necessary.
• Provide clear explanations of the behaviour-consequence link.
• Offer alternative behaviours and reinforce them.
• Keep punishment brief and monitored.
• Reconnect positively afterward (“time-in”).

Question 9

What is the reverse Premack Principle?

Answer 9

Making a less preferred activity contingent on a preferred one can reduce the preferred behaviour.