Transcript document
Chapter 12 Eliminating Inappropriate Behavior Through Punishment Punishment Punisher: An event that when presented immediately following a behavior causes the behavior to decrease in frequency (also called aversive stimuli, or aversives) Types of Punishers Pain Inducing (or physical) Punishers are unconditioned punishers because they are punishing without prior conditioning. Reprimands: Strong negative verbal stimuli (usually including nonverbal stares and possibly a firm grasp, if it is not physically painful) Reprimands are generally Conditioned Punishers because they are associated with the possibility of physical punishment. Types of Punishers (cont.) Timeout : Removal from reinforcing situation to less reinforcing situation (or from opportunity to earn reinforcers). Exclusionary timeout: removal from a reinforcing situation . Non-exclusionary timeout: introducing into the situation a stimulus associated with less reinforcement (e.g. symbols signifying reinforcement is unavailable like buttons, signs) Types of Punishers (cont.) Response Cost Removal of a specified amount of reinforcer following a particular behavior (fines, traffic tickets, charges on accounts, privileges). Unlike Timeout, there is no change in the reinforcement contingencies (behavior-> consequence relationship). Unlike Extinction, the reinforcer is in the control of the client, not the behavior modifier. Factors Influencing the effectiveness of Punishment Maximize the conditions for a desirable alternative response: Set up reinforcers for alternative responses at the same time as the punishers are set up. Minimize the cause of the Response to be punished Including SDs and reinforcers maintaining the undesirable behavior Selecting a Punisher Make sure the punisher is not reinforcing!! and it is not paired with reinforcement (e.g. negative attention) Factors Influencing the effectiveness of Punishment (cont.) Adding Antecedents (including rules) for Punishment SDp: Stimulus in the presence of which a response will be punished Delivering the Punisher Deliver immediately following the behavior to pair the punisher with the behavior. Otherwise a desirable behavior may be paired with a delayed punisher (ex. Wait till your father gets home) Remain calm when administering punishment or “pushing your buttons” may be reinforcing. Should Punishment Be Used? Only for severe and possibly dangerous behavior problems And then use reinforcement to maintain the behavior. Side Effects of Punishment Elicits aggressive behavior Generates fear and emotional trauma People administering punishment may become conditioned punishers themselves Punishment doesn’t teach what to DO only what NOT to do. Modeling aggression Addictive (easier than reinforcement and feeds off anger) Chapter 13 Establishing a Desirable Behavior by Using Escape and Avoidance Conditioning Escape Conditioning Unlike punishment, aversive stimulus must be present before the response. Unlike punishment, the aversive stimulus is removed immediately following the response. Used as a preparatory training for avoidance conditioning. Another name is Negative reinforcement. Avoidance Conditioning Once the client has learned the aversive contingencies, they can avoid aversive punishers. Avoidance conditioning maintains the behavior. Use of warning stimulus (conditioning aversive stimulus, conditioned punisher) is used in discriminated avoidance conditioning. Pitfalls of Escape and Avoidance Parents “giving in” to children Strengthens escape behaviors of arguing, leaving, not following instructions completely, etc. Avoidance behaviors (staying in room, hanging out with friends) may also be successful. Inadvertent establishment of conditioned aversive stimuli. Harsh coach, teacher or parent can train behaviors when athletes, students, children comply to escape/avoid harsh treatment. However, long-term relationships and ability to influence may suffer.