Punishment Flashcards
What are the variables affecting punishment?
- Contingency
- contiguity
- intensity of the punisher
- introductory level of punishment
- reinforcement of punished behaviour
- alternative sources of reinforcement
- deprivation level
- Qualitative features
What is the general rule of contingency re punishment?
The greater the degree of contingency between a behaviour and punishment, the faster a behaviour changes and the greater the suppression of the behaviour
What is the general rule of contiguity and punishment?
for maximum effect, punish behaviour immediately
Why might a delayed interval between behaviour and punishment reduce effectiveness?
Because there is opportunity in the interval for other behaviours to occur, therefore punishment may suppress other behaviours slightly rather than powerfully suppressing the desired behaviour
Why did Thorndike and Skinner’s punishment experiments not work?
Because the consequences (punishers) were too weak
What is the general rule re punishment and intensity?
That the greater the intensity/strength of the punishing stimulus, the greater the reduction of the punished responses
Why is it necessary to begin with a punisher that is intense enough to suppress the behaviour dramatically?
Because if the punisher is too weak, the punished behaviour will tend to persist and a far greater level of punisher may be required to suppress the behaviour
What must be considered re reinforcement when considering punishment?
That all behaviour is maintained by reinforcement so the effectiveness of a punishment procedure depends on the frequency, amount and quality of reinforcement the behaviour produces
What might happen if a punished behaviour continues to receive reinforcement?
It may persist
What may be important to provide when using punishment to suppress behaviour?
Alternative means of obtaining the reinforcers that maintained the undesirable behaviour
What is the general rule re deprivation’s effects on punishment?
The higher the level of reinforcer deprivation, the less effective a punisher is.
What are the two theories of punishment?
Two process theory and one-process theory
What was behaviour suppression originally believed to be caused by?
The disruptive effects of aversive stimuli
What were the two key findings that undermined this view?
1- the effects of punishment are not as transient as Skinner thought if the aversives are sufficiently intense.
2- punishment has a greater suppresive effect on behaviour than does aversive stimulation that is independent of behaviour. (the power of contingency)
What does one-process theory say about punishment and reinforcement?
punishment and reinforcement have essentially symmetrical effects on behaviour