PUNISHMENT According to Kazdin, punishment is the presentation of an aversive event or the removal of a positive event following a response that decreases the frequency of that response (Gines et al, 1989 p. 102).
HOW PUNISHMENT WORKS After studying psychological mechanisms underlying punishment done by researchers, Kazdin has identified several elements that influence its effectiveness. These elements are the following (Gines et al, p. 102-104):
1. Schedule of punishment
Generally, punishment is more effective when it is delivered every time, rather than intermittently. However, when you discontinue punishment, recovery of a response originally punished is greater under conditions of continuous punishment rather than when it is with intermittently …show more content…
It is important to recognize that behavior (both positive and negative) is maintained by various reinforcement contingencies. Therefore, punishment will be more effective when a certain behavior is not reinforced at the same time that punishment contingencies are involved. For example, when a teacher tries to use punishment in the classroom, it is common for the student’s peers to reinforce the child’s inappropriate behavior through laughing or clapping or yelling. Punishment would be expected to be less effective when peers reinforce the child.
4. Timing of reinforcement
Most student behavior consists of a series of actions that make up a response class or group of behaviors. Punishment is usually more effective when it is delivered early in a sequence of behaviors that form a response group.
5. Delay of …show more content…
First, aversive events of relatively weak intensity can effectively suppress behavior if reinforcement also is provided for an alternative positive response. Second, punishment usually trains a person in what not to do, rather than in what to do. Thus, it is important that you follow up with positive reinforcement when punishment is used, because it will increase the effectiveness of punishment. As a procedure, focus your attention on teaching positive behaviors to replace the negative ones you are trying to reduce, and reduce the negative side effects by using aversive
HOW PUNISHMENT WORKS After studying psychological mechanisms underlying punishment done by researchers, Kazdin has identified several elements that influence its effectiveness. These elements are the following (Gines et al, p. 102-104):
1. Schedule of punishment
Generally, punishment is more effective when it is delivered every time, rather than intermittently. However, when you discontinue punishment, recovery of a response originally punished is greater under conditions of continuous punishment rather than when it is with intermittently …show more content…
It is important to recognize that behavior (both positive and negative) is maintained by various reinforcement contingencies. Therefore, punishment will be more effective when a certain behavior is not reinforced at the same time that punishment contingencies are involved. For example, when a teacher tries to use punishment in the classroom, it is common for the student’s peers to reinforce the child’s inappropriate behavior through laughing or clapping or yelling. Punishment would be expected to be less effective when peers reinforce the child.
4. Timing of reinforcement
Most student behavior consists of a series of actions that make up a response class or group of behaviors. Punishment is usually more effective when it is delivered early in a sequence of behaviors that form a response group.
5. Delay of …show more content…
First, aversive events of relatively weak intensity can effectively suppress behavior if reinforcement also is provided for an alternative positive response. Second, punishment usually trains a person in what not to do, rather than in what to do. Thus, it is important that you follow up with positive reinforcement when punishment is used, because it will increase the effectiveness of punishment. As a procedure, focus your attention on teaching positive behaviors to replace the negative ones you are trying to reduce, and reduce the negative side effects by using aversive