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
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