Chapter 6 - Punishment

Question 1

What are the three parts to punishment?

Answer 1

1. A particular behavior occurs
2. A consequence immediately follows the behavior
3. As a result, the behavior is less likely to occur again in the future

Question 2

Punisher

Answer 2

A consequence that makes a particular behavior less likely to occur in the future

Question 3

How is a punisher defined?

Answer 3

Its effect on the behavior it follows

Question 4

A stimulus or event is

Answer 4

A punisher when it decreases the frequency of the behavior it follows

Question 5

How can you conclude if a particular consequence is a punishment

Answer 5

Only if a behavior decreases in the future

Question 6

Positive punishment is defined as

Answer 6

1. The occurrence of a behavior
2. Followed by the presentation of an aversive stimulus
3. The behavior is less likely to occur in the future

Question 7

Negative punishment is defined as

Answer 7

1. The occurrence of a behavior
2. Followed by the removal of a reinforcing stimulus
3. The behavior is less likely to occur in the future

Question 8

Premack Principle

Answer 8

States that when a person is made to engage in a low-probability behavior contingent on a high-probability behavior, the high-probability behavior will decrease in frequency

Question 9

Time-out from positive reinforcement and response cost

Answer 9

Both involve the loss of a reinforcing stimulus or activity after the occurrence of a problem behavior

Question 10

Negative Punishment

Answer 10

removing or withdrawing a postie reinforcer after the behavior; the reinforcer that is removed is negative punishment is one the individual had already acquired and is not necessarily the same reinforcer that was maintaining the behavior

Question 11

Unconditioned Punishers

Answer 11

Painful stimuli or extreme levels of stimulation have biological importance

Question 12

Conditioned Punishers

Answer 12

Stimuli or events that function as punishers only after being paired with unconditioned punishers or other existing conditioned punishers

Question 13

Generalized Conditioned Punishers

Answer 13

It has been paired with a variety of other unconditioned and conditioned punishers over the course of a person’s life

Question 14

Immediacy

Answer 14

When a punishing stimulus immediately follows a behavior, or when the loss of a reinforcer occurs immediately after the behavior, the behavior is more likely to be weakened

Question 15

Contingency

Answer 15

The punishing stimulus should occur every time the behavior occurs

Question 16

Motivating Operations

Answer 16

EO’s and AO’s not only effect reinforcers but they influence punishers as well

Question 17

Factors that influence punishment

Answer 17

• Immediacy
• Contingency
• Motivating Operations
• Individual differences and magnitude

Question 18

Individual differences

Answer 18

Some events may be established as conditioned punishers for some people and not for others because people have different experiences or conditioning histories.

Question 19

Magnitude

Answer 19

In general, a stimulus that is more intense on average is more likely to function as a punisher, this also varies from person to person

Question 20

What is punishment associated with?

Answer 20

A number of ethical issues and issues of acceptability

Question 21

Emotional Reactions to punishment

Answer 21

Behavioral research with nonhuman subjects has demonstrated that aggressive behavior and other emotional responses may occur when painful stimuli are presented as punishers

Question 22

Escape and Avoidance

Answer 22

Aversive stimulus is used in punishment procedure, an opportunity for escape and avoidance behavior is created

Question 23

Punishment and Modeling

Answer 23

People who observe someone making frequent use of punishment may themselves be more likely to use punishment when they are in similar situations

Question 24

Ethical Issues

Answer 24

Some argue that the use of punishment cannot be justified. Others argue that the use of punishment may be justified if the behavior is harmful or serious enough, and therefore, the potential benefits to the individual are great

Question 25

What do certified behavior analysts must state?

Answer 25

1. Reinforcement should be used before punishment is considered
2. If punishment is necessary it should be used in conjunction with reinforcement for alternative behavior