Punishment

punishments

• intrinsic - the behavior itself (pushups, starting a fight)

• extrinsic - the punishment is applied (someone makes fun of you)

• primary - innately punishing. biological (hunger, extreme temps)

• secondary - learned punishment (feeling bad when you get a bad grade)

• generalized - associated with multiple punishments (silent treatment)

problems with punishments

• punishment of maladaptive behavior doesn’t directly strengthen occurrence of adaptive behavior

• have to differentially reinforce adaptive behavior

• punishing one behavior can result in generalized suppression of other behaviors

• the person delivering the punishment may become the discriminative stimulus for punishment

• may only suppress unwanted behavior only when person is present

• punishment may teach the person to avoid the person who delivered the punishment

• punishment is likely to elicit strong emotional response (aggression)

• punishment through modeling could teach person that punishment is acceptable means of controlling behavior (corporal punishment)

• punishment often has immediate effect stopping unwanted behavior

• use of punishment is strongly reinforced

benefits and effective use of punishment

• benefits

• can lead to increase in social behavior

• sometimes results in mood improvement

  • removes guilt

• can increase attention to environment - being more careful in order to avoid punishment

• effective use

• must be immediate 

• must be consistent

• should be intense enough that it works

  • proportional response

• negative punishment is generally preferable to positive punishment

• should be accompanied by explanation

• should be combined w positive reinforcement for appropriate behavior

• noncontingent punishment: punishment not tied to a behavior. uncontrollable / unpredictable

• causes learned helplessness, anxiety, depression

  • cure for learned helplessness - forced to escape aversive stimulus prior exposure

  • prevention - give people experience with minor adversities in order to build up resilience against more serious difficulties