Punishment Flashcards
What is Punishment?
Occurs when the strength of a behavior is weakened by the consequence that reliably follows the occurrence of the behavior
What is the punisher/change agent?
- The stimulus or event that reduces the behavior (acts as the punishment)
- The person providing the punishment
Three characteristics of a punishment
- The behavior has a consequence
- The behavior decreases in strength
- The decrease is due to the consequence
Positive vs Negative Punishment
- Positive/Type 1: the addition or increase in intensity of a [noxious] stimulus that weakens the behavior
- Negative/Type 2: the removal or reduction in intensity of a [desirable] stimulus that results in the behavior weakening
Extinction vs Negative Punishment
Extinction
- not providing the Sr that maintains the behavior
- slow decrease in bx, extinction burst
Negative punishment
- removing any strong Sr as a consequence for bx
- Sr was already acquired and not necessarily the reinforcer that maintained bx
- immediate decrease, no extinction burst
Does punishment lead to forgetting? Are its effects permanent? What does reinforcement afterwards do?
- punishment is suppression of bx ≠ forgetting/unlearning
- effects are temporary
- reinforcement leads to recovery of bx
Unconditioned vs Conditioned Punishers
Unconditioned/Primary
- naturally painful or unpleasant
- biologically important
Conditioned/Secondary
- neutral stimulus that takes on punishing qualities
- some are indications that punishment will occur
What is Threshold Effect?
An individual can develop tolerance to a noxious stimulus after repeatedly experiencing it
What is Generalized Conditioned Punisher?
Paired with a variety of unconditioned punishers, e.g. the word “no”
Variables that affect effectiveness of punishment
- R-S contingency
- R-S contiguity
- Punishment intensity
- How punishment is introduced: strong to weak
- Reinforcers of problematic bx
- Motivating Operations
Problems of punishment
- Negatively reinforced for punisher; can lead to over punishment
- Results in escape or avoidance
- Produces aggression
- Apathy (generalized response suppression)
- Abuse: levels needed may be abusive
- Imitation of punisher - poor communication
- Negative emotions paired with punisher
Hierarchy of procedures of behavior reduction
Level 1: Differential Reinforcement
Level 2: Extinction of Problem bx
Level 3: Negative Punishment
Level 4: Positive Punishment
Differential Reinforcement
- Differential Reinforcement of Low Rate (DRL)
- Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior (DRI)
- Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA)
- Differential Reinforcement of Zero Behavior (DRZ)
What is Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates (DRL)
- Reinforcing intervals of time where the behavior occurred less frequently while withholding reinforcement for intervals where it occurred more frequently
- Goal is to reduce frequency
What is Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior (DRI)?
Reinforcing desirable behavior that is topographically incompatible with problem behavior and withholding reinforcement with problem bx
What is Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA)?
- Reinforcing desirable alternative behavior while withholding reinforcement of problem bx
- Required accepted alternative behavior that serves same function as problem bx
What is Differential Reinforcement of Zero Behavior (DRZ)?
- Also referred to as Other Behavior (DRO)
- Reinforces intervals where problem bx is absent while withholding reinforcement for intervals where it occurred
