Ch. 6 - Punishment Flashcards
What is the definition of punishment?
A particular behaviour occurs, a consequence immediately follows the behaviour. And as a result, the behaviour is less likely to occur again the future.
What is a punisher?
An aversive stimulus, a consequence that makes a particular behaviour is less likely to occur in the future.
How is a punisher defined?
By its effect on the behaviour it follows.
You can only conclude that a particular consequence is a punishment when…
the behaviour decreases in the future.
A mother scolds and spanks her child for a behaviour but the behaviour still occurs, is the scolding and spanking considered a punishment?
No, it is actually a positive reinforcement.
Is it correct to say “The teacher punished Sarah’s disruptive behaviour”?
No. “The teacher punished Sarah’s disruptive behaviour with a time out”
Define a positive punishment.
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.
Define a negative punishment.
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.
What is an unconditioned punisher?
Behaviours that produce a painful or extreme stimulation are naturally weakened.
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…
Conditioned punishers
What is a conditioned punisher?
Behaviours resulting in a naturally punishing consequence.
What is a generalized conditioned punisher?
Condition that is paired with a variety of other unconditional and conditioned punishers over the course of a persons life.
What are the factors that influence the effectiveness of punishment?
Immediacy, contingency, motivating operations.
In the case of negative punishment, deprivation is an ____ makes the loss of reinforcers more effective as a punishment.
EO
In the case of negative punishment, satiation is an ____ that makes the loss of reinforces less effective as punishment.
AO
What can be some problem emotional reactions to punishment?
Aggressive behavioural and other emotional responses may occur when painful stimuli are presented as punishers.
The use of punishment may be negatively reinforcing a person using punishment, and thus may result in
the misuse or overuse of punishment.
Whenever an aversive stimulus is used in a punishment procedure, what is always created?
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.
What is the most misused operant contingency?
Positive punishment
What were some examples of aversive stimuli given in lecture?
Electric shock, air burst, loud noise, verbal reprimands, injury, bitter taste, CS associated with fear/pain.
Stronger punishers will produce…
greater decreases in behaviour.
Small delays in punishment lead to…
huge decreases in punishment value. (Contingency and contiguity)
What is the worst case scenario for punishment?
Noncontingent punishment
What is an example of learned helplessness?
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.
Experimental neurosis is the model for…
PTSD
What is an example of experimental neurosis?
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.
Describe exposure therapy for PTSD.
Graded exposure to trauma stimuli in a controlled environment (systematic desensitization).
Does punishment allow for identification alternative behaviour?
No, they don’t know what will get them reinforcement.
What is an example of modelling and imitation of punishment?
Children who were spanked as children are more likely to spank their own children.
What is an example of the negative reinforcement of the punisher?
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.
What is habituation?
When people get used to punishment and it is no longer effective.
List the traits of effective punishment given in lecture.
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.
What is the difference between punishment and reinforcement?
Punishment - behaviour decreases
Reinforcement - behaviour increases
