Azrin & Holz: Punishment Flashcards
Questions raised about punishment
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?
Punishing Stimuli: Requisite Properties that allow for appraisal of the punishment process
- Punishment should have a precise physical specification
- Punishment stimuli constancy: punishment must not vary due to external factors
(e. g.
environment: humidity in a room will effect shock treatments) - Ability of subject to escape punishment
All subjects must endure the same level of punishment and be allowed the same levels of escape - Punishment should not be too severe as high severity will eliminate any response
- Punishment must be able to vary in intensity to provide a degree of response reduction
Kinds of Punishment (Aversive Stimuli)
Most common are a blast of air, a loud noise, or electric shock.
Electric shock used most often and is most effective
Conditioned Aversive Stimuli as Punishment
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
“Time Out” from Positive Reinforcement as a Punishing Stimuli
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
Punishment by Means of “Response Cost”
Punishment comes in form of “costs”
e.g. Wrong response results in losing points or money
Works well with human subjects
Variables Related to Punishment
Manner of Introduction
Immediacy of Punishment
Intensity of Punishment
Schedule of Punishment
Vacation from Punishment
Manner of Introduction
Sudden introduction of punishment produces much larger reduction of behavior than do gradual introductions
Immediacy of Punishment
Immediate and delayed punishment produce similar short term effects
However, enduring effectiveness (ie behavior does not come back) is produced by immediate punishment.
Intensity of Punishment
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
Schedule of Punishment
Continuous (fixed) punishment after every response produces a greater reduction of behavior than alternating response punishment.
Vacation from Punishment
Lapses in time from entire experimental procedure (stimulus, response, punishment) can produce little effect on punished behavior if punishment was done correctly
Reinforcement Variables Influencing Punishment Effects
Enduring punishment situations must include reinforcement as well as punishment for responses to continue
Subject Motivation to Respond
In general, increased degree of motivation to respond is desirable for best results
In cases of food stimuli, motivation depends on prior food deprivation
Number of Responses Available to a Subject
Alternative responses will lead to a greater suppression of the punished response than a single response because single response can lead to response extinction
Escape from Punishment Situation
Punishment with option of escape is more effective than punishment with no escape
Characteristics of the Punishment Process
Permanence of Suppression
Rapidity of the Effects of Punishment
Recovery During Punishment:
Recovery Following Punishment: Punishment Contrast Effect
Gradual Recovery Following Reinforcement
Permanence of Suppression
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
Rapidity of the Effects of Punishment
Reduction of response by punishment is almost immediate if punishment is effective
Recovery During Punishment
Mild punishment allows for some recovery of behavior after punishment is removed
Severe punishment completely extinguishes behavior
Recovery Following Punishment: Punishment Contrast Effect
When punishment is no longer delivered, responses occur at a higher rate (for a temporary time) than when behavior was unpunished
Gradual Recovery Following Reinforcement
At mild punishment levels using intermittent schedules of delivery, gradual recovery of punished behavior occurs
There is no recovery from severe levels of punishment
Discrimination and Generalization via Punishment
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
Is Punishment Effective in Eliminating Behavior ?
Yes
It depends on the conditions discussed when dealing with the punishment
How Should Punishment be Arranged for Maximum Effectiveness ?
- no escape allowed.
- should be as intense as possible.
- frequency should be as high as possible
- immediate delivery of punishment.
- no increase in intensity, should be introduced at max intensity.
- extended periods of punishment should be avoided
- punishment should not be directly associated with reinforcement.
- delivery of punishment should signal a period of behavioral extinction
- degree of motivation to emit punished response should be reduced.
- frequency for positive reinforcement should be reduced
- alternative response should be available for subjects (one that is not punished)
- conditioned stimuli that are associated with punishment can be used if punishment itself is not available.
- reduction of positive reinforcement may be used if punishment is not available.
What if Subjects Enjoy Punishment ?
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)
Punishment vs. Avoidance and Escape
Punishment differs mainly that it is has an immediate and specific directional relationship with the punished behavior
Punishment vs. Conditioned Suppression
Punishment has more of a fixed relationship with behaviors than Conditioned Suppression
Which Produces Faster Learning: Punishment or Reward ?
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.
How Does Punishment work?
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
Undesired Aspects of Punishment
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)
General Conclusion on Punishment
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
