Ch. 6 - Punishment

Question 1

What is the definition of punishment?

Answer 1

A particular behaviour occurs, a consequence immediately follows the behaviour. And as a result, the behaviour is less likely to occur again the future.

Question 2

What is a punisher?

Answer 2

An aversive stimulus, a consequence that makes a particular behaviour is less likely to occur in the future.

Question 3

How is a punisher defined?

Answer 3

By its effect on the behaviour it follows.

Question 4

You can only conclude that a particular consequence is a punishment when…

Answer 4

the behaviour decreases in the future.

Question 5

A mother scolds and spanks her child for a behaviour but the behaviour still occurs, is the scolding and spanking considered a punishment?

Answer 5

No, it is actually a positive reinforcement.

Question 6

Is it correct to say “The teacher punished Sarah’s disruptive behaviour”?

Answer 6

No. “The teacher punished Sarah’s disruptive behaviour with a time out”

Question 7

Define a positive punishment.

Answer 7

The occurrence of a behaviour is followed by the presentation of an aversive stimulus and as a result, the behaviour is less likely to occur in the future.

Question 8

Define a negative punishment.

Answer 8

The occurrence of a behaviour is followed by the removal of a reinforcing stimulus and as a result, the behaviour is less likely to occur in the future.

Question 9

What is an unconditioned punisher?

Answer 9

Behaviours that produce a painful or extreme stimulation are naturally weakened.

Question 10

Through the process of evolution, humans have developed the capacity for their behaviours that result in escape or avoidance or such stimulus are naturally strengthened, examples of these are…

Answer 10

Conditioned punishers

Question 11

What is a conditioned punisher?

Answer 11

Behaviours resulting in a naturally punishing consequence.

Question 12

What is a generalized conditioned punisher?

Answer 12

Condition that is paired with a variety of other unconditional and conditioned punishers over the course of a persons life.

Question 13

What are the factors that influence the effectiveness of punishment?

Answer 13

Immediacy, contingency, motivating operations.

Question 14

In the case of negative punishment, deprivation is an ____ makes the loss of reinforcers more effective as a punishment.

Answer 14

EO

Question 15

In the case of negative punishment, satiation is an ____ that makes the loss of reinforces less effective as punishment.

Answer 15

AO

Question 16

What can be some problem emotional reactions to punishment?

Answer 16

Aggressive behavioural and other emotional responses may occur when painful stimuli are presented as punishers.

Question 17

The use of punishment may be negatively reinforcing a person using punishment, and thus may result in

Answer 17

the misuse or overuse of punishment.

Question 18

Whenever an aversive stimulus is used in a punishment procedure, what is always created?

Answer 18

An opportunity for escape and avoidance behaviour. Any behaviour the functions to avoid or escape from the presentation of an aversive stimulus is strengthened through negative reinforcement.

Question 19

What is the most misused operant contingency?

Answer 19

Positive punishment

Question 20

What were some examples of aversive stimuli given in lecture?

Answer 20

Electric shock, air burst, loud noise, verbal reprimands, injury, bitter taste, CS associated with fear/pain.

Question 21

Stronger punishers will produce…

Answer 21

greater decreases in behaviour.

Question 22

Small delays in punishment lead to…

Answer 22

huge decreases in punishment value. (Contingency and contiguity)

Question 23

What is the worst case scenario for punishment?

Answer 23

Noncontingent punishment

Question 24

What is an example of learned helplessness?

Answer 24

Kids learn early on for whatever reason to fear math, they learn that no matter what they do they cannot learn math, which is objectively false.

Question 25

Experimental neurosis is the model for…

Answer 25

PTSD

Question 26

What is an example of experimental neurosis?

Answer 26

Animals exposed to unpredictable (unsigned) punishers develop neurotic-like symptoms. Unpredictable punishers are stressful (hyper vigilance). Either you stay ever vigilant or you don’t because nothing matters.

Question 27

Describe exposure therapy for PTSD.

Answer 27

Graded exposure to trauma stimuli in a controlled environment (systematic desensitization).

Question 28

Does punishment allow for identification alternative behaviour?

Answer 28

No, they don’t know what will get them reinforcement.

Question 29

What is an example of modelling and imitation of punishment?

Answer 29

Children who were spanked as children are more likely to spank their own children.

Question 30

What is an example of the negative reinforcement of the punisher?

Answer 30

If your child is doing something annoying, and I yell at the child and the child stops, then I have escaped that annoying behaviour by yelling, and then you might stat applying punishment where you might be able to use something else.

Question 31

What is habituation?

Answer 31

When people get used to punishment and it is no longer effective.

Question 32

List the traits of effective punishment given in lecture.

Answer 32

Do not delay punishment, use consistent contingency and intensity (must happen every time behaviour occurs), intense enough to stop behaviour, negative punishment is preferred, explain punishment, provide alternatives for reinforcement, never punish out of frustration or anger, provide safety signals/warnings, amid reliance on punishment.

Question 33

What is the difference between punishment and reinforcement?

Answer 33

Punishment - behaviour decreases

Reinforcement - behaviour increases