Eliminating Inappropriate Behavior Through Punishment Chapter 12 Copyright
Eliminating Inappropriate Behavior Through Punishment Chapter 12 Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Definitions • Punisher – Event that, when presented immediately after a behavior, causes that behavior to decrease in frequency – Synonyms • Aversive stimuli • Aversives • Principle of Punishment – If in a certain situation a person engages in a behavior that is followed immediately by a punisher, then the person is less likely to do the same thing again in a similar situation. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Behavior Modification versus Layperson View of Punishment • Behavior Modification View: – Punishment should be immediate – Technical word – application of immediate consequences to decrease behavior • Differs from Layperson View – Layperson view • Should involve retribution • Should be used as a deterrent for potential wrong-doers – Behavior modification view: should be used sparingly to decrease or eliminate undesirable behavior Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Specific Types of Punishers • Pain-inducing punishers – Physical punishers – Activate pain receptors – Unconditioned punishers • Reprimands – Verbal reprimands – Fixed stare – Firm grasp – Conditioned punishers Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Specific Types of Punishers • Time-outs – Moving a person to a less reinforcing situation – Exclusionary time-out • Removing a person for a short time from a situation • Time-out room – Nonexclusionary time-out • Using a stimulus associated with less reinforcement • Response Cost – Removal of specified amount of reinforcer – May involve indirect effects (delayed punishment) Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Increasing the Effectiveness of Punishment • Increase stimuli for positive, alternative behaviors • Minimize the cause of undesirable behaviors • Select an appropriate punisher – The more intense the better; however, intensity that is needed is dependent upon the causes of undesirable behavior • Adding an antecedent to punishment – SDp – stimulus in the presence of which a response will be punished • Delivering the punisher – Most effective when delivered immediately after the behavior – Occasional punishment is less effective than punishment that follows every instance of the undesirable behavior – Delivery of punishment should not be paired with positive reinforcement – this weakens the punisher Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Should Punishment Be Used? • Can have harmful effects: 1. Elicits aggressive behavior 2. Can produce undesirable emotional side effects (i. e. crying, fearfulness) 3. Escape and avoidance behavior • Can cause the situation and people associated with the aversive stimulus to become conditioned punishers 4. No new behavior is taught 5. Modeling of punishment • Children may learn to apply aversive stimuli on others 6. Continued use of punishment • • Punishment results in quick suppression of undesirable behavior This can lead to overuse and not enough use of reinforcement of desirable behavior Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Behavior Modifiers and Punishment Programs • Recommendation to use punishment as a last resort because: – Easy to abuse – Application can have harmful side effects • Consider designing punishment programs only when: – Clear steps are taken to maximize the conditions for a desirable alternative response and to minimize the causes of the response to be punished – The behavior is very maladaptive and it is in the client’s best interest to bring about rapid behavior change – The client (or parent or guardian) provides informed consent – The intervention meets ethical standards – Punishment is applied according to clear guidelines – The program includes safeguards to protect the client Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Pitfall of Punishment • May discourage close approximations of behavior from developing into target behavior • May result in undesirable side effects Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Guidelines for the Effective Application of Punishment • Select a response – Punishment is more effective with a specific behavior • Maximize the conditions for a desirable alternative response – Select alternative behavior – Provide strong prompts – Reinforce • • Minimize the causes of the response to be punished Select an effective punisher Present clear SDps Deliver the punisher – Present immediately after every instance of response to be decreased – Administer in a calm, matter-of-fact manner – Do not pair with reinforcement • Take data Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
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