Essential Reading
In this article from Courtney Ackerman of the Positive Psychology website, readers are talked through the differences between reinforcement and punishment. In particular, an emphasis is placed on telling the differences between positive punishment and negative reinforcement – a distinction that many initially find difficult to grasp.
Next, read the below exchange between an RBT called Donald and his BCBA supervisor Fred:
Donald: Hey Fred, I have a question. I’m currently studying to become an RBT, and I’m a bit confused about the concept of punishment and why I need to learn about punishment and punishers when we don’t punishment in our interventions. Can you help clarify this for me?
Fred: Of course, Donald! It’s great that you’re seeking clarification. Understanding punishment and punishers is essential even if you don’t plan to use punishment in your teaching. Let me explain why. As behavior analysts, we need to have a comprehensive understanding of behavior and its functions. Behavior can be influenced by both reinforcement and punishment. By learning about punishment, you’ll be able to recognize when and how behaviors are being punished, even if unintentionally. This knowledge will also help you understand clients better and support them more effectively. It will also help you to avoid accidentally punishing your client’s behavior!
Remember, that reinforcement and punishment are two distinct processes. Reinforcement involves increasing the likelihood of a behavior occurring again, while punishment decreases the likelihood of a behavior happening in the future. It’s important to note that positive and negative refer to the addition or removal of something, rather than being inherently good or bad.
Positive punishment involves adding an aversive stimulus to the environment to decrease the frequency of a behavior. For example, if a child runs across the road and a caregiver reprimands them, the reprimand is a positive punisher if running across the road decreases in the future. Similarly, if someone touches an electric fence and experiences an electric shock, the shock is a positive punisher if touching electric fences decreases in the future.
On the other hand, negative punishment involves removing something pleasant from the environment to reduce a behavior’s frequency. For instance, if two children are arguing over what to watch on TV and their mother turns off the TV as a consequence, the act of turning off the TV functions as a negative punisher if arguing decreases in the future.
Another important aspect to consider is the classification of punishers. Punishers can be classified into different categories based on their source or function. Some examples include unconditioned sensory punishers (naturally aversive stimuli like pain or noxious smells), conditioned social punishers (such as reprimands or loss of attention), or unconditioned tangible/edible punishers (such as tasting spoiled meat).
By understanding the various types of punishers and how they function, you will be better equipped to identify potential sources of punishment in your client’s environment and make informed decisions about how to address challenging behaviors effectively.
I hope this clears up your confusion, Donald! Remember, as an RBT, your focus will primarily be on reinforcement-based strategies and teaching replacement behaviors. However, a solid understanding of punishment ensures you have a holistic understanding of behavior and can collaborate effectively with your BCBA supervisor.
Donald: Thank you, Fred! That explanation really helps me grasp the concept better. I appreciate your guidance and will keep these principles in mind as I continue my training. I may have more questions along the way, so I’ll definitely reach out if I need further clarification. Thanks again!
Essential Videos
This video from Psychology Concepts briefly describes some of the dangers associated with the use of punishment procedures:
Optional Video
The below video from ACT Autism Community Training examines the potential negative effects of punishment in greater detail than the Psychology Concepts video.
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