Lesson 6: Punishment and extinction

Question 1

Definition: punishment

Answer 1

A decrease in probability of behaviour in the future due to the consequences that followed that behaviour in the past.

A decrease in the future probability/frequency of a behaviour due to the events which follow that behaviour

Question 2

Definition: positive punishment

Answer 2

A decrease in the future probability of a behaviour due to the addition of stimuli following that behaviour

Question 3

Definition: negative punishment

Answer 3

A decrease in the future probability of a behaviour due to the removal of stimuli following that behaviour

Question 4

2 punishers frequently used in positive punishment procedures

Answer 4

(1) reprimands = being told “No!”, “Stop!”, or “Don’t do that!”
(2) overcorrection = the person must overcorrect for the impact of their behaviour

Question 5

Definition: aversive stimuli

Answer 5

Stimuli with which we seek to reduce contact time (stimuli we want to avoid)

Question 6

Definition: appetitive stimuli

Answer 6

Stimuli with which we seek to increase contact time (stimuli we want more of)

Question 7

There are 2 differences in what can function as punishers

Answer 7

(1) inter-individual differences = what functions as a punisher for one person might not function as a punisher for another person

(2) intra-individual differences = what functions as a punisher for an individual in one context might not function as a punisher for that same individual in a different context

Question 8

Punishment procedures provide a limited kind of behavioural influence. They often have additional effects. (4)

Answer 8

(1) Punishment reduces particular behaviours but does not specify what behaviour should replace it

(2) Punishment can produce behavioural contrast effects

(3) Punishment contingencies can set the context for escape and avoidance responses

(4) Punishment contingencies can produce aggressive or emotional responses

Question 9

Definition: behavioural contrast

Answer 9

A change in frequency of a behaviour in one contingency results in an opposing change in frequency of the behaviour in a related contingency.

(a change = increase or decrease)

Question 10

Definition: extinction

Answer 10

Decrease in the frequency of a behaviour due to the disruption of a contingency

Question 11

Definition: contingency

Answer 11

A relationship between a behaviour and an outcome in which the outcome is more likely to occur following the behaviour.

Question 12

Extinction in respondent conditioning

Answer 12

The disruption of the contingency between conditioned and unconditioned stimuli will lead to a reduction in the responses to the conditioned stimulus.

Question 13

Extinction in operant conditioning

Answer 13

The disruption of the reinforcement contingency between behaviour and consequence will lead to a reduction in the responses to the consequence.

Question 14

Definition: extinction of positive reinforcement

Answer 14

Decrease in the frequency of a behaviour due to a stimulus no longer occurring (in the environment) after the response

Question 15

Definition: extinction of negative reinforcement

Answer 15

Decreases in the frequency of behaviour due to a stimulus no longer being removed from the environment following the response

Question 16

Extinction of reinforcement contingencies will often lead to an extinction burst. What is an extinction burst?

Answer 16

A brief increase in the frequency and intensity of behaviour at the beginning of an extinction procedure

Question 17

Key difference between punishment and extinction

Answer 17

Punishment creates a (new) contingency between a behaviour and a consequence.

Extinction eliminates a contingency between a behaviour and a consequence

Question 18

Extinction applies to both reinforcement contingencies and punishment contingencies

Answer 18

When reinforcement contingencies are extinguished we will eventually see a reduction/decrease in the frequency of the behaviour

When punishment contingencies are extinguished we will observe some increase in the frequency of the behaviour = recovery

Question 19

Definition: recovery

Answer 19

Increases in the frequency of behaviour due to the disruption of a punishment contingency

Question 20

What is a useful alternative to extinction or punishment?

Answer 20

Differential reinforcement (of alternative behaviour) = replace the problematic behaviour with a non-problematic alternative

Question 21

An important part of the differential reinforcement of alternative behaviour is prompting alternative behaviour. What is a prompt?

Answer 21

A prompt is an antecedent for a behaviour

Question 22

What is the difference between reinforcement and differential reinforcement?

Answer 22

Reinforcement involves the delivery of a stimulus for any response meeting a criterion, and the subsequent increase in the frequency of those behaviours.

Differential reinforcement involves the presentation of a stimulus for a subset of the responses that meet a criterion and the subsequent increase in the frequency of those behaviours.