ABA CH. 18: positive punishment procedures and the ethics of punishmet

What are the 2 major categories of aversive events in positive punishment?

1. application of aversive activities

2. application of aversive stimulations

application of aversive activities

-contingent on the problem behavior, the person is made to engage in an activity that is aversive. The problem behavior is then weakened.
-based on the premark principle--> low probability behavior (aversive behavior) is contingent on high probability behavior (problem behavior). The high probability behavior decreases as a result
-change agent must act immediately and use physical guidance if necessary

overcorrection

a procedure developed to decrease aggressive and disruptive behaviors by people with intellectual disabilities. The client must engage in an effortful behavior fir an extended period of time. Includes positive practice and restitution.

positive practice

an overcorrection technique in which the client must engage in correct forms of relevant behavior contingent on an instance of problem behavior. (practicing the correct behavior)

restitution

an overcorrection technique in which, contingent on the occurrence of a problem behavior, the client must correct the environmental effects of the problem behavior and restore the environment to a condition better than before the problem behavior occurred.

contingent exercise

the client is made to engage in some form of physical exercise (washing the windows, for ex) unrelated to the problem behavior, contingent on the occurrence of the problem behavior.

guided compliance

-the person is physically guided through the requested activity contingent on prob behavior. Guidance is withdrawn if the person begins to comply with the requested activity.
-2 functions: 1. positive punishment of the problem behavior and 2. negatively reinforcing compliance with the requested activity (because the aversive stimulus is removed afterwards)

physical restraint

a punishment procedure in which the change agent holds immobile the part of the client's body involved in the problem behavior.

response blocking

involves preventing the occurrence of a problem behavior by physically blocking the behavior.

application of aversive stimulation

-delivering an aversive stimulus after the problem behavior. Makes the problem behavior less likely in the future
-ex: electric shock, spray of water, reprimands, etc.
-often used with severe/life-threatening/dangerous behaviors like SIB

considerations when using positive punishment

-use functional interventions first
-implement alongside differential reinforcement
-consider the function of the problem behavior
-choose an aversive stimulus with care
-collect data to make treatment decisions
-address the ethical considerations

the ethics of punishment

-informed consent
-alternative treatments
-recipient safety
-problem severity
-implementation guidelines
-training and supervision
-peer review
-accountability preventing misuse and overuse
---it may be negatively reinforcing to use positive punishment