Azrin & Holz: Punishment

Question 1

Questions raised about punishment

Answer 1

Is punishment effective ?

Does punishment only temporarily change behavior ?

Is punishment less effective than reinforcement ?

What does punishment do to behavior ?

What is punishment ?

Is it a consequence of behavior that reduces the future probability of that behavior, or a reduction in the future probability of the punished response?

Question 2

Punishing Stimuli: Requisite Properties that allow for appraisal of the punishment process

Answer 2

1. Punishment should have a precise physical specification
2. Punishment stimuli constancy: punishment must not vary due to external factors
   (e. g.
   environment: humidity in a room will effect shock treatments)
3. Ability of subject to escape punishment
   All subjects must endure the same level of punishment and be allowed the same levels of escape
4. Punishment should not be too severe as high severity will eliminate any response
5. Punishment must be able to vary in intensity to provide a degree of response reduction

Question 3

Kinds of Punishment (Aversive Stimuli)

Answer 3

Most common are a blast of air, a loud noise, or electric shock.

Electric shock used most often and is most effective

Question 4

Conditioned Aversive Stimuli as Punishment

Answer 4

Punishing stimuli can be anything paired (associated) with the aversive stimuli

e.g. A flashing light paired with a shock will result in a reaction to the flashing light

Question 5

“Time Out” from Positive Reinforcement as a Punishing Stimuli

Answer 5

This will produce only partial suppression of the punished responses

However, time out can be effective if an organism has an alternative response available, that if unpunished, will produce the reinforcement

Effectiveness of time out is found to be a function of the duration of the time out

Question 6

Punishment by Means of “Response Cost”

Answer 6

Punishment comes in form of “costs”

e.g. Wrong response results in losing points or money

Works well with human subjects

Question 7

Variables Related to Punishment

Answer 7

Manner of Introduction

Immediacy of Punishment

Intensity of Punishment

Schedule of Punishment

Vacation from Punishment

Question 8

Manner of Introduction

Answer 8

Sudden introduction of punishment produces much larger reduction of behavior than do gradual introductions

Question 9

Immediacy of Punishment

Answer 9

Immediate and delayed punishment produce similar short term effects

However, enduring effectiveness (ie behavior does not come back) is produced by immediate punishment.

Question 10

Intensity of Punishment

Answer 10

Intensity of punishment is a major determinant of the degree of response reduction

The greater the degree of punishment intensity the greater the reduction of response

Question 11

Schedule of Punishment

Answer 11

Continuous (fixed) punishment after every response produces a greater reduction of behavior than alternating response punishment.

Question 12

Vacation from Punishment

Answer 12

Lapses in time from entire experimental procedure (stimulus, response, punishment) can produce little effect on punished behavior if punishment was done correctly

Question 13

Reinforcement Variables Influencing Punishment Effects

Answer 13

Enduring punishment situations must include reinforcement as well as punishment for responses to continue

Question 14

Subject Motivation to Respond

Answer 14

In general, increased degree of motivation to respond is desirable for best results

In cases of food stimuli, motivation depends on prior food deprivation

Question 15

Number of Responses Available to a Subject

Answer 15

Alternative responses will lead to a greater suppression of the punished response than a single response because single response can lead to response extinction

Question 16

Escape from Punishment Situation

Answer 16

Punishment with option of escape is more effective than punishment with no escape

Question 17

Characteristics of the Punishment Process

Answer 17

Permanence of Suppression

Rapidity of the Effects of Punishment

Recovery During Punishment:

Recovery Following Punishment: Punishment Contrast Effect

Gradual Recovery Following Reinforcement

Question 18

Permanence of Suppression

Answer 18

Once a punished behavior has been completely suppressed, the behavior will not recover for a very long time, even after the punishment contingency has been removed

Question 19

Rapidity of the Effects of Punishment

Answer 19

Reduction of response by punishment is almost immediate if punishment is effective

Question 20

Recovery During Punishment

Answer 20

Mild punishment allows for some recovery of behavior after punishment is removed

Severe punishment completely extinguishes behavior

Question 21

Recovery Following Punishment: Punishment Contrast Effect

Answer 21

When punishment is no longer delivered, responses occur at a higher rate (for a temporary time) than when behavior was unpunished

Question 22

Gradual Recovery Following Reinforcement

Answer 22

At mild punishment levels using intermittent schedules of delivery, gradual recovery of punished behavior occurs

There is no recovery from severe levels of punishment

Question 23

Discrimination and Generalization via Punishment

Answer 23

When two stimuli are presented and only one is punished, discrimination between the stimuli will occur

Subjects will generalize like stimuli if they have been conditioned with punishment for one of the stimuli

Punishing stimuli can serve as warnings for other stimuli
e.g. flashing light then a shock

Question 24

Is Punishment Effective in Eliminating Behavior ?

Answer 24

Yes

It depends on the conditions discussed when dealing with the punishment

Question 25

How Should Punishment be Arranged for Maximum Effectiveness ?

Answer 25

1. no escape allowed.
2. should be as intense as possible.
3. frequency should be as high as possible
4. immediate delivery of punishment.
5. no increase in intensity, should be introduced at max intensity.
6. extended periods of punishment should be avoided
7. punishment should not be directly associated with reinforcement.
8. delivery of punishment should signal a period of behavioral extinction
9. degree of motivation to emit punished response should be reduced.
10. frequency for positive reinforcement should be reduced
11. alternative response should be available for subjects (one that is not punished)
12. conditioned stimuli that are associated with punishment can be used if punishment itself is not available.
13. reduction of positive reinforcement may be used if punishment is not available.

Question 26

What if Subjects Enjoy Punishment ?

Answer 26

Masochism

Or a child that misbehaves and then gets spanked, spanking serves as punishment but also as attention which is what the child wanted. (therefore you must change the form of punishment)

Question 27

Punishment vs. Avoidance and Escape

Answer 27

Punishment differs mainly that it is has an immediate and specific directional relationship with the punished behavior

Question 28

Punishment vs. Conditioned Suppression

Answer 28

Punishment has more of a fixed relationship with behaviors than Conditioned Suppression

Question 29

Which Produces Faster Learning: Punishment or Reward ?

Answer 29

Punishment does not teach new behavior it only eliminates behavior

Punishment is as effective in extinguishing behavior as extinction, satiation, stimulus change, and physical removal of the response.

Question 30

How Does Punishment work?

Answer 30

Competing Response Theory:

Punished response decreases in frequency because of a response that competes with the punished response

e.g. pressing button = shock….a competing response is to not push the button

Punishment weakens behavior

Question 31

Undesired Aspects of Punishment

Answer 31

Disruptive and undesirable social and emotional states

Increases in aggression to both the punishing stimulus as well as other organisms in the study ( if access to these organisms is available)

Question 32

General Conclusion on Punishment

Answer 32

Over all punishment is unique in its effectiveness when compared to other forms of behavior suppression

If it is done properly results come quickly and at little aversive cost to the subject

Punishment is here to stay