Lesson 6: Punishment and extinction Flashcards
Definition: punishment
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
Definition: positive punishment
A decrease in the future probability of a behaviour due to the addition of stimuli following that behaviour
Definition: negative punishment
A decrease in the future probability of a behaviour due to the removal of stimuli following that behaviour
2 punishers frequently used in positive punishment procedures
(1) reprimands = being told “No!”, “Stop!”, or “Don’t do that!”
(2) overcorrection = the person must overcorrect for the impact of their behaviour
Definition: aversive stimuli
Stimuli with which we seek to reduce contact time (stimuli we want to avoid)
Definition: appetitive stimuli
Stimuli with which we seek to increase contact time (stimuli we want more of)
There are 2 differences in what can function as punishers
(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
Punishment procedures provide a limited kind of behavioural influence. They often have additional effects. (4)
(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
Definition: behavioural contrast
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)
Definition: extinction
Decrease in the frequency of a behaviour due to the disruption of a contingency
Definition: contingency
A relationship between a behaviour and an outcome in which the outcome is more likely to occur following the behaviour.
Extinction in respondent conditioning
The disruption of the contingency between conditioned and unconditioned stimuli will lead to a reduction in the responses to the conditioned stimulus.
Extinction in operant conditioning
The disruption of the reinforcement contingency between behaviour and consequence will lead to a reduction in the responses to the consequence.
Definition: extinction of positive reinforcement
Decrease in the frequency of a behaviour due to a stimulus no longer occurring (in the environment) after the response
Definition: extinction of negative reinforcement
Decreases in the frequency of behaviour due to a stimulus no longer being removed from the environment following the response
Extinction of reinforcement contingencies will often lead to an extinction burst. What is an extinction burst?
A brief increase in the frequency and intensity of behaviour at the beginning of an extinction procedure
Key difference between punishment and extinction
Punishment creates a (new) contingency between a behaviour and a consequence.
Extinction eliminates a contingency between a behaviour and a consequence
Extinction applies to both reinforcement contingencies and punishment contingencies
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
Definition: recovery
Increases in the frequency of behaviour due to the disruption of a punishment contingency
What is a useful alternative to extinction or punishment?
Differential reinforcement (of alternative behaviour) = replace the problematic behaviour with a non-problematic alternative
An important part of the differential reinforcement of alternative behaviour is prompting alternative behaviour. What is a prompt?
A prompt is an antecedent for a behaviour
What is the difference between reinforcement and differential reinforcement?
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.
