Chapter 7 Punishment Punisher Consequence aversive stimulus or event that follows behavior that results in a decrease in the future probability of the behavior Functional Definition of Punishment Response Consequence Children fight over toy Immediately Parent removes toy from play Outcome Child is less likely to fight over toy 1 The occurrence of a behavior 2 Results immediately in a consequence 3 The behavior is decreased less likely to occur again in the future in similar circumstances Positive Punishment Behavior is followed by the presentation of a punisher or negative stimulus and the behavior is less likely to occur in the future Negative Punishment Behavior is followed by the removal of a reinforcing stimulus and the behavior is less likely to occur in the future Reinforcers vs Punishers Behavior Increases more likely in future Behavior Decreases less likely in future Stimulus Delivered Positive Reinforcement Positive Punishment Stimulus Removed Negative Reinforcement Negative Punishment Variables Influencing Punishment Contingency Contiguity Punisher Intensity Introductory Level of Punishment Alternative Sources of Reinforcement Deprivation Level Contingency Degree of correlation between a behavior and its consequence Punishment happens only in response to a behavior and not when that behavior does not occur Contiguity Interval between a behavior and its punishing consequence The shorter this interval the faster learning occurs Punisher Intensity Skinner and Thorndike concluded that punishment has little effect WRONG Both of their experiments used weak punishers like a slap of a lever or a wrong from a teacher All studies of the intensity of punishment have found All studies of the intensity of punishment have found that greater the intensity of the punishing that thethe greater the intensity of the punishing stimulus of the thestimulus greater isthe thegreater reductionisofthe the reduction punished responses punished responses Azrin and Holz 1966 Azrin and Holz 1966 Introductory Level of Punishment Using an effective level of punishment from the beginning is extremely important Azrin and Holz 1966 Group 1 Mild Shock Trial 1 335 volts Trial 750 Rats run at same pace Group 2 No Shock Trial 1 335 volts Trial 750 Rats running is inhibited If a weaker punisher is used and gradually increased the resulting effective punisher will be more intense than if the correct intensity was used to begin with Reinforcement of the Punished Behavior The effectiveness of a punishment procedure depends on the frequency amount and quality of reinforcers of the behavior Alternative Sources of Reinforcement Punishment is more effective if given an alternative way to obtain the reinforcement Learning and Behavior Sixth Edition by Paul Chance Copyright 2009 Wadsworth Publishing a division of Cengage Learning All rights reserved Deprivation Level The greater the level of reinforcer deprivation the less effective a punisher is Learning and Behavior Sixth Edition by Paul Chance Theories of Punishment Disruption Theory Two Process Theory One Process Theory Disruption Theory Punishment reduces behavior rates because it arouses incompatible behavior If true contingency is not important Boe and Church 1967 Shocks contingent on lever pressing were much more effective at reducing lever presses than non contingent shocks Two Process Theory Pavlovian and operant procedures US Lever Shock Fear for shock and lever CS Lever A Operant Component Escape and Avoid lever CR Lever B If a rat were trained to press A and B in sequence then this theory would mean that the rat would only stop pressing lever B and not both A and B One Process Theory Punishment is the mirror image of reinforcement Opposite of Premack principle shows that a low probability behavior will punish high probability behavior Why Use Punishment Punishment is negatively reinforced Punishment is a fast procedure Punishment can be permanent Punishment has beneficial side effects Potential Problems with Punishment Escape Individuals subject to frequent punishment become good at escaping and avoiding it lying suicide Potential Problems with Punishment Aggression Sometimes the subject reacts aggressively to the use of punishment on their behavior An effective way to exert control over those who punish Not always directed at source of punishment Potential Problems with Punishment Apathy If escape and avoidance are not an option general suppression of behavior will occur Not only punished behavior malaise Potential Problems with Punishment Abuse Mild forms of punishment can gradually build up to stronger and stronger consequences Potential Problems with Punishment Imitation of the Punisher People who have seen others use punishment to change behavior may be more likely to use it when faced with a similar situation Alternatives to Punishment Response Prevention Parental controls on computer or TV Put objects out of reach or not obtainable Alternatives to Punishment Extinction Can cause extinction burst and emotional outbursts Very important not to reinforce the behavior during the extinction burst Alternatives to Punishment DR0 Differential Reinforcement of Zero Responding Reinforcement is contingent on NOT responding for a period of time Alternatives to Punishment DRI Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible behavior In the name reinforce behavior that is incompatible with the unwanted behavior