Chapter 8 - Punishment

Punishment

refers to presentation or removal of events that decrease probability of a future response

prevalent in everyday life

• fine for speeding

• detention for fighting

in behavior modification, types of aversive events used & how they are applied varies from everyday life

• usually avoid punishment when possible

why avoid punishment

• usually can find alternatives

• often associated with unwanted side effects

• can → undesirable associations

aversive stimuli

• primary

  • naturally aversive stimuli

  • eleectric shock

  • physical assault

  • bright lights

  • loud noises

• secondary

  • acquire aversive properties through pairing with other aversive events

  • “no”

  • gestures

  • nods

  • frowns

  • traffic tickets

• stimuli can also become aversive if they’re consistently associated with the absence of reinforcement

  • s (triangle)

aversive stimuli types - verbal statements

• reprimands, warnings, disapproval, “no”, threats

• strengths

  • easy to administer

  • don’t → physical discomfort

• limitations

  • inconsistent effects overall

  • utility influenced by delivery

    • classroom: eye contact, touch, and close proximity increased effects

  • often lose effectiveness over time

    • why? consequence don’t follow

  • may → corporal punishment

  • often → increase intensity to maintain effects

aversive stimuli types - electric shock

• rarely used

  • usually restricted to those engaging in behaviors dangerous to self/others that have been unresponsive to other treatments

• application: brief shock to finger or arm

• usually → rapid & marked suppression of behavior

• concerns

  • professionals & clients usually view it as unacceptable for treatment

  • ethical issues

  • many alternatives

  • requires special equipment & training

  • not feasible for groups

aversive stimuli types - other measures

• other options

  • squirting lemon juice

  • smell of aromatic ammonia (smelling salts)

  • spraying water

  • brief blocking of vision (facial screening)

• often viewed more positively than electric shock

• can be extremely effective when provided correctly

withdrawal of positive consequences

• used often in real life by parents

  • taking away privileges

  • losing allowance

  • time out

• events that are positively valued or serve as positive reinforcers are removed

• 2 major techniques in behavior modification

  • time out from reinforcement

  • response cost

• remove a positive reinforcer for period

  • client doesn’t have access to positive reinforcers normally available

  • example: isolation from peers

• crucial ingredient

  • brief period where all sources of reinforcement are withdrawn

    • mary is sent to her room

    • toys are in her room → reinforcement hasn’t been removed

withdrawal of positive consequences - time out

• time out is different from extinction

• time out consists of a brief period, extinction doesn’t

• time out is a punishment procedure, extinction isn’t

• time out with reinforcement variations

  • classic time out

    • remove client to isolated area

  • periphery time out

    • remove client to periphery

  • remove a stimulus indicating reward is available

    • example: ribbon removal

  • removing others: ask others to leave room

  • remove stimulation

    • turn off tv and radio

• time out from reinforcement

  • strengths

    • very effective

    • can be brief

    • doesn’t involve pain

    • works very well if “time in” environment is very stimulating

    • more effective in combo with reinforcement

  • limitations

    • decrease opportunities for positive reinforcement

    • isolation may → maladaptive behaviors

      • self-stimulatory behavior

    • bad for withdrawn clients

    • longer time outs doesn’t necessarily increase effectiveness

withdrawal of positive consequences - response cost

• loss of a positive reinforcer; usually includes a penalty contingent on behavior

  • no period during which + events aren’t available

  • often a fine

    • traffic tickets

    • overdue book fines

    • penalty for filing taxes late

• fines

  • can be effective

  • often ineffective due to intermittent application

  • not paying fines often doesn’t → bad consequences

• with contingent application, can be very effective

  • often employed in conjunction with token economies

• strengths

  • easy to implement

  • works well in conjunction with positively reinforcing incompatible behaviors

• limitations

  • clients may run out of points to lose

punishing consequences based on effort

• engage in responses that entail work or effort contingent on behavior

• example: overcorrection

  • penalty for undesirable behavior is performing positive behaviors in the situation

• overcorrection: two components

  • may be used together or alone

• restitution: correcting environmental effects of inappropriate behavior

  • behavior: paint on the wall

  • restitution: clean paint off wall

• positive practice: repeatedly practicing the appropriate behavior

  • behavior: throw trash on the floor

  • positive practice: place trash in can several times in a row

• strengths

  • flexible procedure

  • can be very effective

  • can focus on appropriate response

  • viewed more favorably than time out

• limitations

  • can’t always return environment to original state

  • requires restitution and positive practice behavior

  • reports of aggression

  • requires lots of supervision

selecting procedures to suppress behaviors

• factors to consider

  • how severe and dangerous is the behavior?

    • does it need to stop now?

  • what is the setting?

    • ease of implementation

  • how much training is involved?

  • what are the long-term consequences?

• in general, use least restrictive or intrusive procedure available

what factors influence punishment’s effectiveness?

• immediacy

• schedule

• source of reinforcement

• timing in the response sequence

• punishment variation

• reinforcing alternative behavior

side effects?

• emotional reactions

• escape and avoidance

• aggression

• modeled punishment

• perpetuation of punishment

when & how should punishment be used?

• is punishment needed at all?

  • usually not a 1st-line procedure

  • other procedures should be tried first

• punishment may be needed in some situations

  • inappropriate behavior is physically dangerous to self/others

  • reinforcement of a behavior incompatible with the disruptive behavior can’t be easily administered

  • temporarily suppress a behavior while another behavior is reinforced

• key questions to ask

  • are alternative procedures available that aren’t aversive?

    • have they been tried?

  • are punishment procedures the least restrictive interventions?

  • is it possible/likely that procedures will be abused/escalated?

  • can use be supervised, monitored, and evaluated?

  • will the duration of the program be relatively brief?

  • when implemented, are there initial signs behavior is changing?

    • beyond initial signs of progress, are there clear benefits?