Chapter 6 Aversive Control of Behavior Synopsis: Chapters 4 and 5 focused on the use of positive reinforcement to manage behavior. In chapter 6, the emphasis changes to aversive control of behavior. Aversive contingencies include positive and negative punishment and negative reinforcement. Positive punishment involves a decrease in operant behavior that produces or adds an event or stimulus to the environment. Negative punishment is a decrease in response that terminates or removes ongoing reinforcement. Both types of punishment are defined by a reduced probability of response following a punishment procedure. Negative reinforcement is an increase in operant behavior that removes or prevents the negative reinforcer. Punishment and negative reinforcement are a major part of life experience. Unfortunately, they are also associated with a number of unwanted side effects. Punishment is relative and most effective when abrupt, intense, immediately delivered, and continuous. Negative reinforcement can be either escape or avoidance, with the major difference being whether the aversive event is removed or prevented, respectively, by the operant. The chapter concludes with an exploration of the side effects of aversive control, including persistence of avoidance behavior, learned helplessness, counter aggression, escalation of aggression, and the effects of coercion on dropping out of social situations. Study Questions: What is an aversive stimulus? How does a conditioned aversive stimulus differ from a primary aversive stimulus? According to Azrin and Holz (1966), what type of punishment seems virtually impossible to eliminate? Identify alternatives to the use of punishment for reducing the rate of an operant response. Describe each of the following punishment procedures: (a) overcorrection, (b) timeout with exclusion, (c) timeout with non-exclusion, and (d) response cost. What does it mean that punishment is relative, not absolute? Identify six ways to increase the effectiveness of punishment. What effect do drugs that block histone acetylation have on fear conditioning in rats? What about drugs that inhibit histone deacetylation? Identify the stand of both sides in the punishment debate? What is the response of the textbook authors to this debate? What is the paradoxical effect of punishment? What solution did Long (2009) provide for this paradox? Describe Afifi and colleagues’ (2012) conclusions regarding the long-term relationship between physical punishment and mental health.
Chapter 6 Aversive Control of Behavior Synopsis: Chapters 4 and 5 focused on the use of positive reinforcement to manage behavior. In chapter 6, the emphasis changes to aversive control of behavior. Aversive contingencies include positive and negative punishment and negative reinforcement. Positive punishment involves a decrease in operant behavior that produces or adds an event or stimulus to the environment. Negative punishment is a decrease in response that terminates or removes ongoing reinforcement. Both types of punishment are defined by a reduced probability of response following a punishment procedure. Negative reinforcement is an increase in operant behavior that removes or prevents the negative reinforcer. Punishment and negative reinforcement are a major part of life experience. Unfortunately, they are also associated with a number of unwanted side effects. Punishment is relative and most effective when abrupt, intense, immediately delivered, and continuous. Negative reinforcement can be either escape or avoidance, with the major difference being whether the aversive event is removed or prevented, respectively, by the operant. The chapter concludes with an exploration of the side effects of aversive control, including persistence of avoidance behavior, learned helplessness, counter aggression, escalation of aggression, and the effects of coercion on dropping out of social situations. Study Questions: What is an aversive stimulus? How does a conditioned aversive stimulus differ from a primary aversive stimulus? According to Azrin and Holz (1966), what type of punishment seems virtually impossible to eliminate? Identify alternatives to the use of punishment for reducing the rate of an operant response. Describe each of the following punishment procedures: (a) overcorrection, (b) timeout with exclusion, (c) timeout with non-exclusion, and (d) response cost. What does it mean that punishment is relative, not absolute? Identify six ways to increase the effectiveness of punishment. What effect do drugs that block histone acetylation have on fear conditioning in rats? What about drugs that inhibit histone deacetylation? Identify the stand of both sides in the punishment debate? What is the response of the textbook authors to this debate? What is the paradoxical effect of punishment? What solution did Long (2009) provide for this paradox? Describe Afifi and colleagues’ (2012) conclusions regarding the long-term relationship between physical punishment and mental health.