Week 11

Question 1

Punisher

Answer 1

Immediate consequence of an operant behavior that causes that behavior to decrease in frequency in the future

Question 2

Behavioral Punishment

Answer 2

• Occurs immediately after the problem behavior
• Not a form of moral sanction, vengeance, or retribution
• Not used to deter others from engaging in the problem behavior

Question 3

Principle of Punishment

Answer 3

If someone does something that is immediately followed by a punisher, then that person is less likely to do the same thing again in a similar situation

Question 4

Societal Punishment

Answer 4

• Often doesn’t occur immediately following a behavior
• Consider a person being sent to prison
• Belief that retribution or justice is connected
• Used to deter others

Question 5

4 Types of Punishers

Answer 5

1. Physical Punisher
2. Reprimand
3. Timeout
4. Response Cost

Question 6

Physical Punisher

Answer 6

Stimuli that activate pain receptors; unconditioned

Question 7

Reprimand

Answer 7

Strong negative verbal stimulus immediately contingent on behavior; conditioned

Question 8

Timeout from Reinforcement

Answer 8

A period of time immediately following a particular behavior during which an individual loses the opportunity to earn reinforcers

Question 9

Exclusionary Timeout

Answer 9

Removing an individual briefly from a reinforcing situation following a problem behavior

Question 10

Non-Exclusionary Timeout

Answer 10

Introducing into the situation, immediately following a problem behavior, a stimulus associated with less reinforcement

Question 11

Response Cost

Answer 11

The removal of a specified amount of a reinforcer immediately following a behavior

Question 12

Direct-Acting Punishers

Answer 12

• Occur immediately after the problem behavior
• Results in decreased frequency of the response in the future

Question 13

Indirect-Acting Punishers

Answer 13

• Delayed occurrence; person comes into contact with punisher some time after engaging in the problem behavior (e.g., shop lifting; smoking)
• Weakens future responding through use of rules

Question 14

5 Factors Influencing the Effectiveness of Punishment

Answer 14

1. The conditions for a
   desirable alternative response
2. The cause of the undesirable behavior
3. The punishing stimulus
4. Rules (antecedents) for punishment
5. The delivery of the punisher

Question 15

5 Potential Harmful Side Effects of Punishment

Answer 15

1. Aggresive behavior
2. Emotional behavior
3. Escape and avoidance behavior
4. Modeling of punishment
5. Overuse of punishment

Question 16

2 Biggest Problems with Punishment

Answer 16

1. Punishment doesn’t establish new behavior; it only suppresses behavior
2. Punishment doesn’t teach what to do; it teaches what not to do

Question 17

7 Guidelines for the
Effective Application of Punishment

Answer 17

1. Select a response that is specific
2. Maximize the conditions for a desirable alternative response
3. Minimize the causes of the problem response
4. Select an effective punisher (a punisher should be punishing)
5. Present clear SDPs
6. Deliver the punisher
7. Take data

Question 18

1.

Escape Conditioning (Negative Reinforcement)

Answer 18

The removal of aversive stimuli immediately after the occurrence of a behavior will increase the likelihood of that behavior in the future

Question 19

Avoidance Conditioning

Answer 19

A behavior prevents an aversive stimulus from occurring thereby increasing the frequency of future behavior

Question 20

4 Guidelines for the Effective Application of
Escape and Avoidance Conditioning

Answer 20

1. Escape and avoidance conditioning should be used cautiously
2. There is a possibility of side effects: aggression, fearfulness, a tendency to avoid/escape anything associated with the procedure
3. Positive reinforcement for the target response should be used in conjunction with avoidance conditioning
4. Inform the person about the contingencies in effect