Positive Punishment Types

Reprimands

• Reprimands are a type of positive punishment.
• Positive punishment means something is added to reduce a behavior.
• Example: Verbal reprimands.
• Reprimands are only effective if the behavior reduces.

Response Blocking

• Response blocking is another type of positive punishment.
• Example: Preventing a cat from jumping onto a stove by blocking its path.
• The key is to prevent the completion of the undesired response.

Combining Reprimands with Response Blocking

• Reprimands and response blocking can be combined.
• Example: Physically stopping oneself from doing something while also reprimanding the behavior.

Contingent Electric Shock

• Contingent electric shock is a classic example of punishment.
• It involves administering an electric shock contingent on a specific behavior.
• Ethical considerations: Not generally considered a good practice, but it has its uses.

Contingent Exercise

• Contingent exercise involves performing physical exercises as a consequence of undesired behavior.
• Example: In basic training, doing exercises whenever something was done wrong.

Overcorrection

• Overcorrection is another type of positive punishment.
• Two types of overcorrection:
  • Restitutional overcorrection: Fixing the environment to a state better than it was before the undesired behavior.
  • Positive practice overcorrection: Repeatedly practicing the correct behavior.
• Example of positive practice: Teenager slamming a car door and being made to shut the door properly multiple times.
• Example of restitutional overcorrection: Cleaning up or fixing damage caused by the undesired behavior.

Spankings

• Spankings are are also type of punishment.

General Principles of Punishment

• The goal of punishment is to teach appropriate behavior.
• It's important to teach desired behaviors and not just punish undesired ones.