CHP 10 PUNISHMENT

Question 1

Punisher

Answer 1

a contingent consequence that decreases the future probability of a behavior below its pre-punishment level (but doesn’t prevent the behavior from occurring)

Question 2

Punishment

Answer 2

the process or procedure whereby a punisher decreases the future probability of an operant response

Question 3

Positive punishment

Answer 3

the contingent presentation of a consequence that decreases the future probability of the behavior below its no-punishment level

Question 4

Negative punishment

Answer 4

the contingent removal, reduction, or prevention of a reinforcer; the effect of which decreases the future probability of the behavior below its no-punishment level

Question 5

Punishment in a clinical setting

Answer 5

used when the behavior is dangerous to oneself or others, and only after other interventions have failed

Question 6

6 characteristics of effective punishment interventions

Answer 6

1) focus on reinforcement first (identify the reinforcers maintaining the behavior)

2) combine punishment with extinction and/or differential reinforcement

3) deliver punishers immediately (if that’s impossible, clarify the contingent relation between problem behavior and punisher VERBALLY (playing audio/video recording of inappropriate behavior before it’s punished), or having the individ re-enact the problem behavior before delivering the punisher)

4) Deliver punishment contingently (only as a consequence of problem behavior)

5) Punish every time

6) Use punisher in the goldilocks zone (find the least restrictive punisher that’s reduces the future probablility of behavior)

Question 7

Primary punisher

Answer 7

a contingent consequence that functions as a punisher because in the evolutionary past of the species, this consequence decreased the chances of survival (NO NEW LEARNING IS REQUIRED)

Question 8

Conditioned punisher

Answer 8

a contingent consequence that signals a delay reduction to a backup punisher ESTABLISHED THRU PAVLOVIAN LEARNING

the CS becomes the Conditioned Punisher, the aversive stim is the Backup Punisher

Question 9

Timeout from positive reinforcement

Answer 9

a signaled response-contingent suspension of a positive-reinforcement contingency, the effect of which decreases the future probability of problem behavior

Question 10

4 guidelines for effective timeout from positive reinforcement

Answer 10

1) provide no more than 1 verbal warning

2) significantly reduce access to reinforcers

3) end time-out after no more than 5 min, even if the kid isn’t sitting quietly

4) every instance of problem behavior produces a time-out

Question 11

Response-cost punishers

Answer 11

negative punishers that involve the removal/reduction of a reinforcer

ex. taking points away in a token economy system

Question 12

Results of the Public Goods Game Experiments

Answer 12

With no punishment: everyone starts to cheat

With punishment: Players punished the cheater (even when it costs the player to punish them) and made them stop cheating

People prefer to play with punishment

Question 13

Effect of being watched on punishable behavior

Answer 13

When punishing agents are watching, problem behavior is less likely to occur

Question 14

Reinforcers that maintain the behavior of using punishment

Answer 14

Negative escape reinforcer (escape problem behavior)

Positive reinforcer (cooperation increases)