Term
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Definition
| A decrease in the strength of behavior due to its consequences. Must have three characteristics: First, a behavior must have a consequence. Second, the behavior must decrease in strength (occur less often). Third, the reduction in strength must be the result of the consequence. |
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Term
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Definition
| The consequences involved in punishment. Ex. reprimands, fines, and physical blows, such as those delivered in a spanking. Punisher are aversives - things we will escape or avoid, given the chance. Defined by their effects on behavior. |
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Term
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Definition
| When an aversive event is added to the situation. Personal example - I went out to dinner at Omar's and was treated aversively by the waiter. I haven't gone back to the restaurant since because of the added aversive event. |
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Term
| Negative Punishment or Penalty Training |
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Definition
| Something is subtracted from the situation. Personal example - My chores weren't done so my privilege to go out and watch a movie with my friends was taken away. Being punished by taking away my time with friends created a decrease in my behavior of not doing my chores. |
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Term
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Definition
| The degree to which punishment weakens a behavior (reduces its frequency) varies with the degree to which a punishing event is dependent on that behavior. The greater the degree of contingency between a behavior and a punisher, the greater the suppresion of the behavior. |
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Term
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Definition
| The interval between a behavior and punishing consequence has a powerful effect on learning. The longer the delay, the slower the learning. Ex. the "off task" experiment with hyperactive 1st and 2nd graders, imediate reprimands got results, delayed reprimands were useless. Immediate punishment is more likely to act on the intented behavior. In any case, the rule of thumb is clear: For maximum effect, punish behavior immediately. |
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Term
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Definition
| The strength of the punisher is an important factor in its effects on behavior. Very mild punishers typicall have little effect. The more intense a punisher, the more it decreases the rate of behavior. |
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Term
| Introductory Level of Punishment |
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Definition
| Using an effective level of punishment from the very beginning is very important. If punishment is to be used, one must begin with a punisher that is intense enough to suppress the behavior dramatically. |
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Term
| Reinforcement of the Punished Behavior |
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Definition
| The effectiveness of a punishment procedure depends on the frequency, amount, and quality of reinforcers the behavior produces. The success of efforts to punish behavior will depend, then, on the reinforcing consequences of the behavior. If a behavior produces reinforcers, it may persist despite aversive consequences. |
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Term
| Alternative Sources of Reinforcement |
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Definition
| A related factor in the effectiveness of punishment is the availability of alternative ways of obtaining reinforcement. This finding has an obvious implication for the practical use of punishment : When punishing an unwanted behavior, be sure to provide an alternative means of obtaining the reinforcers that maintained that behavior. |
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Term
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Definition
| Level of reinforcer deprivation influences the effectiveness of punishment. In general, the greater the level of reinforcer deprivation, the less effective a punisher is. |
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Term
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Definition
| A typical and quite sensible reaction to punishment is to try to escape or avoid the source of punishment. We humans often punishment by "tuning out". We shut our ears to a spouse, parent, or employer who repeatedly criticizes our behavior. Cheating and lying is also a reaction to escape. The ultimate escape is suicide, which is an extreme measure to take, and better options are almost always available, but it illustrates the efforts to which people will sometimes go to escape or avoid punishment. |
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Term
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Definition
| An alteranative to escaping punishment is to attack those who punish. Aggression is likely to occur when escape is impossible. The aggression is not always directed at the source of injury. Animals as well as humans will attack inanimate objects if no living creature is handy. Ex. most of us have thrown an object or slammed a door after being insulted. |
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Term
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Definition
| A general suppression of behavior occurs when escape and aggression are not possible. If aversives are a common consequence of many kinds of behavior, the result may be a suppression not only of the punished behavior but of behavior in general. |
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Term
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Definition
| A punisher can potentially get out of hand with the punishment to where it because abuse. Child abuse in the home is often punishment getting out of hand. |
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