Psychology of LearningEXP4404

Chapter 7: Punishment

Dr. Steve

Topics Covered

Positive & Negative Punishment Variables Affecting Punishment

Contingency Contiguity Intensity Opposing Reinforcers

Theories of Punishment Problems with Punishment Alternatives

Types of Punishment

Positive Punishment (Type I)

Negative Punishment (Type II or Penalty Training)

Variables Affecting Punishment

Contingency

Contiguity

Variables Affecting Punishment

Punisher Intensity

Variables Affecting Punishment

Progressive increase of intensity -

Variables Affecting Punishment

Variables Affecting Punishment

Progressive increase of intensity -

Group 1 Mild Shock 335 volts Trial 1 Trial 750

Group 2 No Shock 335 volts Trial 1 Trial 750

Rats run at same pace

Rats running is inhibited

Previous and Concurrent Reinforcement of Punished Behavior

Variables Affecting Punishment

Punishment works best when it is:

Variables Affecting Punishment

Alternative Sources of Reinforcement –

Variables Affecting Punishment

Disruption Theory (Skinner & others) –

Passive Avoidance type theory

Theories of Punishment

Two Process Theory

Theories of Punishment

One Process Theory (Thorndike & others) – Law of Effect

Premack Principle applied to punishment

Theories of Punishment

Why Punish?

Lovaas study with autistic children

Freq of self-destructive acts

100

200

300

400

Day

1 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

No Punishment Shock + “No” “No”

Criticisms of Punishment

Skinner and others often opposed the use of punishment because:

Problems with Punishment

Escape/Avoidance Aggression Apathy Abuse Imitation of Punisher

Alternatives to Punishment

Response Prevention Extinction Differential Reinforcement

DR0 – differential reinforcement of zero responding DRL – diff reinf of low rate DRI – diff reinf of incompatible behavior

Reinforcement (pos or neg) vs Punishment (Type I or II)?

1. Police pulling drivers over and giving prices for buckling up2. Suspending a basketball player for committing a flagrant foul3. A soccer player rolls her eyes at a teammate who delivered a bad pass4. A child snaps her fingers until her teacher calls on her5. A hospital patient is allowed extra visiting time after eating a complete meal6. Receiving a city utility discount for participating in a recycling program7. Grounding a teenager until his or her homework is finished8. Scolding a child for playing in the street9. A prisoner loses TV privileges for one week for a rule violation10. A parent nagging a child to clean up her room11. A rat presses a lever to terminate a shock or a loud tone12. A professor gives extra credit to students with perfect attendance13. A dog is banished to his doghouse after soiling the living room carpet14. A prisoner is “water boarded” until he confesses15. A young child receives $5 for earning good grades in school16. A mother smiles when her child utters “Mama”17. A child is put into “time out” for misbehaving18. Employee of the month gets a reserved parking space19. At a party, a husband becomes sullen when his wife flirts with a colleague20. A woman watching a football game offers her child candy to play quietly