Applying Punishment

Question 1

Extinction vs punishment

Answer 1

Extinction = THE reinforcer that was supporting the behaviour is no longer given

Negative punishment = A reinforcer is removed or withdrawn

Question 2

Two types of negative punishment

Answer 2

Time-out: person is removed from access to reinforcers
Response cost: reinforcer taken away from person

Question 3

E.g. of extinction vs negative punishment when child throws a tantrum to draw his parents attention

Answer 3

Extinction: parents now ignore the tantrum every time it occurs

Negative punishment: child needs to sit on his “naughty spot” after tantrum (time out)

Question 4

Definition of time out from positive reinforcement

Answer 4

Loss of access to positive reinforcers following an undesirable behaviour

Question 5

Types of time out (2)

Answer 5

1. Nonexclusionary time-out: after an undesirable behaviour, person remains in the same room or location as the time-in, but is denied access to reinforcers
2. Exclusionary time-out: following undesirable behaviour, person is moved to different part of the room and is denied access to reinforcers or moved to different room

Question 6

What is contingent observation

Answer 6

Nonexclusionary time-out where person is denied access to reinforcers, and must observe others engaging in activities

Question 7

What is isolation time-out

Answer 7

Form of exclusionary time-out where person is removed from the environment in which reinforcers are available. to a separate setting in which they are alone

Question 8

Subtype of nonexclusionary and exclusionary time outs

Answer 8

Non = contingent observation

Excl = isolation time out

Question 9

Issues with time outs

Answer 9

• Need to encourage a desirable behaviour in its place
• Does not work with negative reinforcement or automatic reinforcement
• Enough space?
• Safety?
• Duration of time-out period (shortest that is effective)
• Prevent escape

Question 10

What is contingent delay? Aka

Answer 10

Aka release contingency
Time out does not end if behaviour has not ceased during the time out period (prevents escape = neg reinforcement)

Question 11

Definition of response cost

Answer 11

Removal of a reinforcer following an undesirable behaviour

Question 12

E.g. of response cost

Answer 12

Paying a parking ticket

Question 13

Response cost issues

Answer 13

• Reinforcer?
• Withdraw reinforcer immediately or delay?
• Avoidance, aggression
• Can reinforcer be physically taken away

Question 14

What is positive punishment

Answer 14

Applying aversive activities or applying aversive stimuli

Question 15

What is applying aversive activities

Answer 15

Involves low-probability beh that person does not enjoy doing
Punisher if follows behaviour, decreases beh

Question 16

Kinds of aversive activities (4)

Answer 16

1. Overcorrection: person ahs to perform effortful, low-probability behaviours contingent on problem beh
2. Contingent exercise: after problem beh, person must perform exercise
3. Guided compliance: after problem beh, person is physically guided to complete requested beh
4. Physical restraint: part of body that performed problem beh is restrained

Question 17

Types of overcorrection (aversive activity)

Answer 17

1. Positive practice: person must correctly perform an opposite or appropriate behaviour repeatedly
2. Negative practice: person must perform undesirable behaviour repeatedly
3. Restitution: person must correct the effects of the problem behaviour to restore environment to better condition

Question 18

Types of physical restraint (aversive activity)

Answer 18

1. Response blocking: beh analyst physically prevents the problem beh
2. Response interruption/redirection: after response is blocked, person is prompted to engage in a competing response using least-to-most hierarchy

Question 19

What is applying aversive stimulation

Answer 19

Presenting stimuli that are aversive or unpleasant to a person
Punisher if follows a beh, decreases beh

Question 20

Kinds of aversive stimulation (2)

Answer 20

1. Reprimands: harsh, verbal criticisms of behaviour
2. Physically aversive stimuli: causes physical pain, discomfort, or unpleasant sensations (e.g. ice cube, ammonia)

Question 21

Positive punishment issues

Answer 21

• Use functional interventions first
• Apply differential reinforcement with punishment (DRO, DRA)
• Conduct functional assessment
• Select most effective punisher
• Ethical implications

Question 22

Order of trying functional interventions before positive punishment ***

Answer 22

1. Antecedent control procedures/positive reinforcement/differential reinforcement
2. Negative reinforcement
3. Extinction
4. Negative punishment
5. Positive punishment (last resort)

Question 23

The ethics of punishment

Answer 23

• Informed consent
• Alternative treatments attempted?
• Safety
• Problem severity (harm themselves?)
• Training and supervision
• Peer review