LNG - Operant Conditioning - Punishment Lesson

Punishment

Punishment, unlike reinforcement, decreases the likelihood that a behavior will take place. Punishment is applied after a behavior has taken place with the goal of decreasing or eliminating that behavior in the future.

  • Positive Punishment - Positive punishment is the addition of something unpleasant with the goal of decreasing undesirable behavior. EX: Getting grounded for bad grades.
  • Negative Punishment - Negative punishment is the removal of something pleasant to decrease unwanted behavior. EX: Your parents take away your smartphone for bad grades.

Punishment works best when it is applied directly after an undesirable behavior. However, research has found reinforcement to be more effective at changing behavior. Some of the criticisms of punishment include the possible increase of aggression; it tells you what not to do but does not tell you what you should be doing; and undesirable behaviors are only suppressed, not forgotten.

Operant Conditioning Diagram Reinforcement (Increase Behavior) If Positive - Add appetative stimulus following correct behavior Giving a treat when the dog sits If Negative - Escape (Remove noxious stimuli following correct behavior e.g. Turning off an alarm clock by pressing the snooze button.) If Negative - Active Avoidance (Behavior avoids noxious stimulus e.g. Studying to avoid getting a bad grade) Punishment (Decrease Behavior) If Postive - Add noxious stimuli following behavior e.g. Spanking a child for cursing If Negative - Remove appetative stimulus following behavior e.g. Telling the child to go to his room for cursing Terms: Positive - presence of a stimulus Negative - absense of a stimulus Reinforcement - increases behavior Escape - removes a stimulus Punishment - decreases behavior Avoidance - prevents a stimulus

[CC BY 4.0] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION