Chapter 6Punishment

Chapter Outline

Defining PunishmentA Common Misconception About PunishmentPositive and Negative PunishmentUnconditioned and Conditioned PunishersContrasting Reinforcement and PunishmentFactors Influencing the Effectiveness of Punishment

ImmediacyContingencyMotivating OperationsIndividual Differences and Magnitude of the Punisher

Problems with PunishmentEmotional Reactions to PunishmentEscape and AvoidanceNegative Reinforcement for the Use of PunishmentPunishment and ModelingEthical Issues

Chapter SummaryKey TermsPractice TestAppendix AChapter 6, Quiz 1Chapter 6, Quiz 2Chapter 6, Quiz 3

Ideas for Class Activities

1. Provide students with interesting, everyday examples of behavior and consequences. In the examples, vary whether the consequence involves the addition or removal of a stimulus and vary whether the future outcome of the behavior is a decrease of increase in the behavior. Ask students to identify each example as positive or negative punishment or positive or negative reinforcement and explain why.

2. Discuss the distinction between punishment as a behavior modification principle and punishment as the word is commonly used in society. Start by asking students to describe what the term punishment has always meant to them. Discuss how punishment is viewed as “hurting” someone (as in a “punishing” tackle in a football game) or as getting back at someone for a wrong. Discuss the notion that punishment in behavior modification does not have to involve pain or retribution. Discuss how governments and other authorities often mistakenly think they are using punishment, when in fact the consequences may not decrease the behavior of interest and thus may not function as punishment at all, or only partially function as punishment (e.g., speeding tickets).

Answers to Practice Test Questions

1. Punishment is defined as follows: When a particular behavior occurs, a consequence immediately follows the behavior, and as a result, the behavior is less likely to occur again in the future (the behavior is weakened).

2. Many people consider punishment to be quite negative, for example something you do to a person who has committed a crime or other inappropriate behavior. It is thought to involve retribution or painful consequences delivered to the person. In behavior modification, punishment is a technical term with a specific meaning. You

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cannot define punishment by whether the consequence would seem to be unfavorable or aversive. You can determine that a particular consequence is punishing only by whether the behavior decreases in the future.

3. (a) An example of punishment might be when you show up late for a class and receive a reprimand from the instructor. As a result, you are less likely to show up late for class again.(b) This is positive punishment because the reprimand was delivered following the behavior and the behavior was weakened.(c) The reprimand is a conditioned punisher. It became a punisher through prior learning.

4. To say that the behavior modification definition of punishment is a functional definition means that punishment is defined by the effect on behavior. Punishment only occurs when the behavior is weakened as a result of the response contingent consequence of the behavior.

5. In positive punishment, the occurrence of a behavior is followed by the presentation of a stimulus, and as a result, the behavior is less likely to occur in the future. For example, Donny pulled Susie’s hair and Susie smacked Donny. As a result, Donny did not pull Susie’s hair in the future. Other names for positive punishment include: punishment by application, punishment by contingent presentation of a stimulus, punishment by presentation of an aversive stimulus, and response contingent presentation of a punisher.

6. In negative punishment, the occurrence of a behavior is followed by the removal of a stimulus, and as a result, the behavior is less likely to occur in the future. For example, when Taren threw her favorite toy across the room her mother took the toy and locked it up. As a result, Taren is less likely to throw her toys in the future. Other names for negative punishment include: punishment by withdrawal, punishment by loss of reinforcers, the penalty contingency, and response contingent removal of a positive reinforcer.

7. (a) Unconditioned punishers are stimuli that require no prior training or experience to serve as punishers; they are naturally aversive. (b) We have developed the capacity for our behavior to be punished by naturally aversive events through the process of evolution. Without this capacity, we would be more likely to engage in dangerous behaviors that could result in injury or death. (c) Some examples of unconditioned punishers are: extreme heat or cold, extreme levels of auditory or visual stimulation, or any painful stimulus (e.g., electric shock, a sharp object, or a forceful blow).

8. (a) A conditioned punisher is a stimulus or event that will function as a punisher only after being paired with an unconditioned punisher or an existing conditioned punisher. (b) A neutral stimulus or event may become a conditioned punisher if it is paired with an established punisher. (c) See the chapter for other examples of conditioned punishers.

9. A painful stimulus may be involved in both positive punishment and negative reinforcement in the following way: When a behavior results in the presentation of a painful stimulus (positive punishment), that behavior is less likely to occur in the future. However, any behavior that results in the removal of the painful stimulus (negative reinforcement) is strengthened. For example, when Marlene attempted to remove a tray of cookies from the oven without an oven mitt, her hand was burned by the intense heat of the tray (positive punishment). As a result Marlene was less likely to reach into the oven without a mitt in the future. By putting on an oven mitt Marlene avoids the intense heat (negative reinforcement), therefore she was more likely to wear an oven mitt when reaching into the oven.

10. A reinforcing stimulus may be involved in both negative punishment and positive reinforcement in the following way: If a reinforcing stimulus is removed following a behavior, the behavior will decrease in the future (negative punishment) but if a reinforcing stimulus is presented following a behavior, the behavior will increase in the future (positive reinforcement). For example, Alan gets a D in physics because he has been going out on school nights in lieu of studying. Alan’s parents take away his car keys as a result, making Alan less likely to go out and skip studying to go out on school nights (negative punishment). Alan then begins to study two hours per night, and brings his grade up to an A for the next term. His parents then return his car keys, making Alan more likely to study on school nights (positive reinforcement). 11. For punishment to be most effective, the consequence must follow the behavior immediately. As the delay between the behavior and the consequence is increased, the effectiveness of the consequence as a punisher is

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decreased.

12. Punishment will be maximally effective when it is applied consistently. If a schedule of reinforcement continues to be in effect for a behavior and punishment is applied inconsistently, the behavior is being influenced by an intermittent schedule of reinforcement at the same time it is resulting in an intermittent punishment schedule. When a concurrent schedule of reinforcement is competing with punishment, the effects of punishment are likely to be diminished.

13. An establishing operation is an event or a condition that will make a consequence more effective as a punisher (or reinforcer). Missing lunch (food deprivation) is an establishing operation which makes being sent to bed without dinner more punishing for a child. An abolishing operation is an event or condition that makes a reinforcer less potent. Having eaten a large amount of food before supper, makes being sent to be without supper less punishing for the child.

14. In general, a more intense aversive stimulus will be more likely to function as a punisher.

15. The following five problems may result from the use of punishment:(1) Punishment may produce elicited aggression or other emotional side effects.(2) The use of punishment may result in escape or avoidance behaviors by the individual whose behavior

is being punished.(3) The use of punishment may be negatively reinforcing for the person using punishment and thus may

result in the misuse or overuse of punishment.(4) When punishment is used, its use is modeled and observers or individuals whose behavior is punished

may be more likely to use punishment themselves in the future.(5) Punishment is associated with a number of ethical issues and issues of acceptability.

16. a. extinction; b. positive punishment; c. negative punishment; d. positive punishment; e. extinction; f. negative punishment; g. positive punishment.

Answers to Quizzes

Quiz 11. less 2. punisher or aversive stimulus 3. delivered or added 4. positive 5. removing, withholding 6. the word “no” 7. establishing operation 8. the word “no,” a warning, a facial expression or statement of disapproval 9. painful stimulation or an extreme level of stimulation 10. negative

Quiz 21. punishment 2. removed 3. negative punishment 4. extinction, negative punishment 5. conditioned 6. unconditioned 7. more 8. less 9. negatively 10. emotional reactions to punishment, escape and avoidance, negative reinforcement for the use of punishment, modeling the use of punishment, and ethical issues

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Quiz 31. weakens or decreases, strengthens or increases 2. aversive 3. reinforcer 4. c 5. b 6. a 7. d 8. a 9. d 10. b

Test Questions

1. If a behavior occurs and it is immediately followed by a consequence that makes the behavior less likely to occur in the future it is called:

a) negative reinforcementb) extinctionc) punishmentd) none of these

ANS: C

2. Bill spits on an umpire during a baseball game and is suspended for ten games. As a result of being suspended, Bill never spits on an umpire again. Being suspended for his behavior of spitting is referred to as a:

a) reinforcerb) punisherc) punishmentd) conditioned response

ANS: B

3. In behavior modification, a punisher is defined by its:a) effect on the behavior it followsb) intended purposec) effect on the behavior it precedesd) severity

ANS: A

4. A consequence can be considered a punisher if the:a) consequence appears unfavorableb) behavior decreases temporarilyc) behavior decreases in the futured) consequence is extreme

ANS: C

5. In behavior modification, the term punishment is used to refer to a process in which the consequence of a behavior results in:

a) retribution for the behaviorb) a weakening of the behaviorc) retaliation for the behaviord) all of these

ANS: B

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6. Andrew was removed from class because he swore at his teacher. As a result of being removed from class activities, Andrew never swears at his teacher again. This is an example of:

a) positive punishmentb) extinctionc) negative punishmentd) negative reinforcement

ANS: C

7. Which procedure(s) decreases a behavior or makes it less likely to occur?a) positive punishmentb) positive reinforcementc) negative reinforcementd) A and C

ANS: A

8. Andrew was removed from class because he swore at his teacher. As a result of being removed from class activities, Andrew continues to swear at his teacher. This is an example of: a) positive punishment

b) negative punishmentc) positive reinforcementd) none of the above

ANS: D

9. Nicole is caught lying to her parents and loses her driving privileges. As a result, Nicole no longer lies to her parents. This is an example of:

a) positive punishmentb) negative reinforcementc) negative punishmentd) extinction

ANS: C

10. Nikki interrupts her parents when they are talking and her parents scold her and explain why interrupting is rude. As a result, Nikki continues to interrupt her parents when they are talking. This is an example of:

a) positive punishmentb) negative reinforcementc) positive reinforcementd) none of these

ANS: C

11. The difference between punishment and reinforcement is that in punishment:a) a stimulus is removed following behaviorb) a stimulus is presented following behaviorc) the behavior decreases in the futured) the behavior increases in the future

ANS: C

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12. Sam skips school so that he can play video games at the arcade. Sam’s parents find him there and make him mow the lawn when they get home. As a result of having to mow the lawn, Sam doesn’t skip school to go to the arcade anymore. Having to do something he dislikes as punisher for the problem behavior is an example of:

a) extinctionb) negative punishmentc) negative reinforcementd) the Premack Principle

ANS: D

13. Which of the following is an example of negative punishment?a) time-out from positive reinforcementb) time-out from negative reinforcementc) response costd) A and C

ANS: D

14. Time-out from positive reinforcement and response cost both:a) involve the loss of access to reinforcersb) strengthen a behaviorc) involve the presentation of an aversive stimulusd) are examples of negative reinforcement

ANS: A

15. In behavior modification, negative punishment involves removal of a reinforcer that:a) was maintaining the behaviorb) the client doesn’t likec) the person had already acquiredd) none of these

ANS: C

16. If following the behavior, the reinforcer that was maintaining the behavior is removed and the behavior decreases it is called ____________. If a positive reinforcer the person had already acquired is removed following the behavior and the behavior decreases it is called ____________.

a) extinction; negative punishmentb) negative punishment; extinctionc) negative reinforcement; negative punishmentd) extinction; negative reinforcement

ANS: A

17. Extreme cold and extreme levels of auditory stimulation are examples of:a) conditioned punishersb) conditioned reinforcersc) unconditioned punishersd) unconditioned reinforcers

ANS: C

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18. A conditioned punisher is established bya) pairing a neutral stimulus with a reinforcerb) following the behavior with a punisherc) pairing a neutral stimulus with a punisherd) removing a reinforcer for the behavior

ANS: C

19. If a stimulus needs to be paired with an established punisher in order to function as a punisher it is referred to as a(n):

a) conditioned punisherb) conditioned reinforcerc) unconditioned punisherd) unconditioned reinforcer

ANS: A

20. Which of the following can become a conditioned punisher?a ) the word “no”b) threatsc) facial expressionsd) all of these

ANS: D

21. The principles of reinforcement and punishment are alike in that:a) behavior is followed by a consequence b) the consequence influences future behaviorc) behavior is strengthenedd) A and B

ANS: D

22. Zach comes home past his curfew and is yelled at by his parents. If, as a result of being yelled at, Zach never comes home late again it would be an example of ____________.

a) positive punishment b) positive reinforcementc) negative punishmentd) negative reinforcement

ANS: A

23. Which of the following factors influences the effectiveness of punishment?a) immediacyb) contingencyc) motivating operationsd) all of these

ANS: D

24. In behavior modification, if a stimulus is presented following the behavior and it influences the future probability of the behavior, the process is either ____________ or ____________.

a) negative reinforcement ; negative punishmentb) positive reinforcement ; positive punishmentc) positive reinforcement ; negative reinforcementd) positive punishment ; negative punishment

ANS: B

25. The removal of a stimulus following the behavior that influences the future probability of the behavior is a process that is either ____________ or ____________.

a) positive punishment ; positive reinforcement

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b) negative punishment ; negative reinforcementc) positive reinforcement ; negative punishmentd) negative reinforcement ; positive punishment

ANS: B

26. In order for punishment to be effective, the consequence should follow the behavior closely in time. This factor is referred to as:

a) immediacyb) contingencyc) characteristics of the consequencesd) time delay

ANS: A

27. Whenever Tommy hits his little brother, he loses his television privileges. Tommy never loses his television privileges for any other behavior. This is an example of a(an) ____________ existing between hitting his little brother and losing his television privileges.

a) establishing operationb) contingencyc) scheduled) correlation

ANS: B

28. Which of the following may function as an motivating operation?a) deprivationb) satiationc) instructionsd) all of these

ANS: D

29. Individual differences in the effectiveness of punishment refers to the fact that:a) punishers vary from person to personb) a more intense stimulus will be more effectivec) A and B d) none of these

ANS: A

30. Which of the following is NOT a problem with using punishment in behavior modification?a) it can lead to escape behaviorsb) it may evoke emotional reactionsc) it may be negatively reinforcingd) it is used to harm individuals

ANS: D

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1. Punishment is defined as .

ANS: behavior that results in a consequence that weakens the behavior in the future

2. A is a consequence that follows a behavior, making the behavior less likely to occur in the future.

ANS: punisher or aversive stimulus

3. The difference between positive and negative punishment is whether the consequence of the behavior involves the or of a stimulus.

ANS: delivery, removal; removal, delivery

4. The Premack principle applied to punishment is defined as _______________.

ANS: low probability behavior contingent on a high probability behavior

5. Time out is an example of punishment.

ANS: negative

6. Nicholas used to come home late for supper until his parents started to take away a dollar of his allowance every time he was late. Nicholas’ behavior of coming home late decreased to zero. This is an example of what form of negative punishment? .

ANS: response cost

7. An unconditioned punisher is .

ANS: a naturally punishing stimulus

8. A conditioned punisher is .

ANS: a stimulus that is punishing because it was paired with another punisher

9. When a punisher is delivered following a target behavior, the target behavior will __________ in the future.

ANS: decrease

10. _______________ is the process in which a stimulus is delivered following a behavior and the behavior decreases in the future.

ANS: positive punishment

11. _______________ is the process in which a stimulus is removed following a behavior and the behavior decreases in the future.

ANS: negative punishment

12. Punishment by application is another name for _______________ punishment.

ANS: positive

13. Punishment by withdrawal is another name for _______________ punishment.

ANS: negative

1. T F Punishment can be defined by whether the consequence appears unfavorable or unpleasant.

ANS: F

2. T F The behavior modification definition of punishment can be quite different than a nonprofessional definition of punishment.

ANS: T

3. T F Punishment can sometimes increase behavior in the future.

ANS: F

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4. T F Punishment does not involve an extinction burst.

ANS: T

5. T F For punishment to be most effective, the consequences must follow the behavior immediately.

ANS: T

6. T F For punishment to be most effective, the behavior should be followed by a punisher every time it occurs.

ANS: T

7. T F Punishment is a process that decreases or weakens a behavior.

ANS: T

8. T F Positive punishment involves the removal of a positive stimulus following the behavior.

ANS: F

9. T F Negative punishment involves the delivery of a negative stimulus following the behavior.

ANS: F

10. T F The word “no” is an unconditioned punisher for most people.

ANS: F

11. T F A more intense punisher will be less effective.

ANS: F

1. List 4 factors that influence the effectiveness of punishment.

ANS: Four factors that influence the effectiveness of punishment are immediacy, consistency of the consequence, motivating operations, and characteristics of the consequence.

2. Describe how the use of punishment can be negatively reinforcing.

ANS: When punishment is used, it results in an immediate decrease in the problem behavior. If the behavior that is decreased by punishment is aversive to the person using punishment, the use of punishment is negatively reinforced by the termination of the aversive behavior. As a result, the person is more likely to use punishment in the future in similar circumstances.

3. Provide an example of positive punishment and an example of negative punishment.

ANS: An example of positive punishment is Donny pulled Susie’s hair and Susie smacked Donny. As a result, Donny did not pull Susie’s hair in the future. An example of negative punishment is Taren threw her favorite toy across the room, and her mother took the toy and locked it up. As a result, Taren is less likely to throw her toys in the future.

4. Describe the difference between negative punishment and extinction.

ANS: In negative punishment, the occurrence of a behavior is followed by the removal of a stimulus, and as a result, the behavior is less likely to occur in the future. Negative punishment involves removal of a reinforcer that was not maintaining the behavior. Extinction occurs when a behavior which has been previously reinforced no longer results in reinforcing consequences and, therefore, the behavior stops occurring in the future. Extinction involves withholding a reinforcer that was maintaining the behavior.

5. Define punishment.

ANS: Punishment is when a particular behavior occurs, a consequence immediately follow the behavior, and as a result, the behavior is less likely to occur again in the future (behavior is weakened).

6. How does positive punishment differ from negative punishment?

ANS: Positive punishment involves the presentation of a stimulus whereas negative punishment involves the

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removal of a stimulus following the behavior. Both result in the weakening of the behavior in the future.

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