Aversive Control

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Unit 6

• Aversive Control

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Punishment

• (1) In a particular stimulus situation (S),
  (2) some kinds of behavior (R), when followed
  immediately by (3) certain stimulus changes (SP),
  show a decreased future frequency of occurrence
  in the same or in similar stimulus conditions.

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Positive Punishment

• When the future frequency of behavior is
  decreased by the presentation of a stimulus, or
  an increase in the intensity of a stimulus, the
  relation is called positive punishment.
• Physical
• Verbal

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Negative Punishment

• When the future frequency of behavior is
  decreased by the removal of a stimulus or a
  decrease in stimulus intensity, the relation is
  called negative punishment
• Response Cost
• Time-Out

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Effectiveness of Punishment

• Abrupt introduction of punishment
• If the aversive consequence is gradually
  increased in intensity, punishment is not very
  effective
• To be most effective the aversive consequence
  needs to be presented suddenly

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Effectiveness of Punishment

• Intensity of punishment
• The higher the intensity of the aversive
  consequence, the greater the response suppression

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Effectiveness of Punishment

• Immediacy of punishment
• Punishment is most effective at reducing behavior
  when the aversive consequence closely follows
  behavior

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Effectiveness of Punishment

• Schedule of punishment
• Positive punishment is most effective when the
  aversive consequence follows each response

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Effectiveness of Punishment

• Motivation for response
• Punishment is most effective when the motivation
  to respond is reduced.

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Effectiveness of Punishment

• Response alternatives
• Punishment is most effective if the organism
  learns an alternative behavior to obtain the same
  reinforcer that maintains the target behavior
  (the one being punished)

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Behavioral Mechanism

• Why punishment decreases behavior?
• Reduces responding because it elicits competing
  respondent behavior reflexive responses may
  disrupt operant behavior. When this reflexive
  behaviors are gone, the operant response contacts
  the contingency again
• Reduces responding because it negatively
  reinforces incompatible operant behaviors.
  Behavior being punished becomes a source of
  conditioned aversive stimuli that evoke
  incompatible responses

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Behavioral Mechanism

• The sudden and total cessation of the behavior
  does not imply that the future frequency of its
  occurrence has been reduced, which would be the
  true effect of punishment
• Punishment may only temporarily weaken behavior,
  due to an emotional reaction

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Negative Reinforcement

• When the future frequency of behavior is
  increased by the removal of a stimulus or a
  decrease in stimulus intensity.

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Escape

• An operant response changes the situation from
  one in which a negative reinforcer is present to
  one in which it is absent
• Would it be easier to teach lever pressing or
  running as escape from shock delivery?

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Avoidance

• When an operant prevents the occurrence of an
  aversive stimulus
• Discriminated avoidance
• Warning signal precedes an aversive stimulus
• Nondiscriminated avoidance/Sidmans avoidance
• No warning present

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Molar Vs. Molecular

• Molar (overall changes)
• Behavior is maintained because of reduction in
  frequency of shock
• Overall reduction or sensitivity to shock
  frequency maintains operant avoidance
• Molecular (immediate changes)
• Moment-to-moment time between shocks and the time
  from response to shock represent the variables
  regulating responding

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Side Effects

• Behavioral Persistence
• Avoidance behavior prevents extinction
• Helplessness Depression
• Aggression
• Social Disruption
• Counter control