First, if there are other ways or measures to achieve the same effect and purpose for a focus behavior, then there is no need to take punitive measures; In the field of applied behavior analysis, there are many non-punitive measures to try, whether it is to reduce or increase a certain focus behavior.
Secondly, compared with reinforcement theory, the definition of punishment theory itself and its position as a basic behavior principle relative to reinforcement are still controversial. Some people think that it is the basic behavior principle opposite to reinforcement, while others think that it is only a derivative of negative reinforcement theory. The reason why behavior is suppressed comes from the result of negative reinforcement against punished behavior.
Third, although punishment is usually a measure to suppress the frequency (or behavioral response) of a certain behavior, in some cases, it may even become a strengthening factor to maintain a certain behavior. For example, parents sometimes give punishment for a child's specific problem behavior, and sometimes they don't. To some extent, this is equivalent to simulating the program of intermittent reinforcement (according to variable proportion) in disguised form (if no punishment is given, it is also regarded as disguised reinforcement), and the problem behavior will not be reduced, but will be maintained for a long time, and even may increase locally.
There are two views on punishment. One view is that punishment is an event after a certain behavior, which will reduce the possibility of the behavior; Another view is that punishment is a process of negative reinforcement or withdrawal of positive reinforcement based on a certain behavior. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, but neither can fully explain the principle of punishment.
The main problem of the former is that it can't explain the phenomenon of insufficient or defective generalization in the process of generalization. The latter is obviously a concept derived from the negative reinforcement principle, which avoids adding a new concept called punishment to behavioral science. However, the latter concept of punishment means that any stimulus used to punish conditions and opportunities should first be a stimulus that has been proved to be negatively reinforced, which does not correspond to the facts one by one.
It should be noted that the concept of stimulus in the field of behavioral science, whether it is professional semantics or general semantics, is very vague.
First of all, in the field of behavioral science, stimulus refers to all events (things, things, people and the relationship or correlation between things and people). Therefore, before and after the focus behavior, including the focus behavior itself, can be regarded as a stimulus. Therefore, stimulation can be used as the premise background of the focus behavior, as well as the focus behavior itself, and as reinforcement or punishment after the behavior occurs (here, for the sake of understanding, the concept of punishment is recognized). However, in order to distinguish the sequential environmental events around the focus behavior, some scholars collectively refer to the factors before the focus behavior as stimulus, the focus behavior as behavioral response, and the subsequent events as reinforcement or punishment, which narrows the concept of stimulus.
Secondly, in the role of reaction conditions, the traditional formula S=f(R) is often used to reflect that behavior is the direct result of stimulus and is directly triggered by stimulus. General reflex behavior (physiology or pathology, autonomic nervous system or emotion) is directly triggered by internal and external environment and is not controlled by subjective will.
Third, general semantic stimuli are usually related to negative or malignant life events. Saying that a person has been stimulated may mean that he has been hit, criticized, frustrated, suffered bad treatment and so on. Or stimulating, stimulating, inspiring, such as "don't stimulate him", "thrilling" and so on.
Take the first definition of punishment, punishment is a measure to reduce the possibility of a certain behavior, and it is an event that happens after a certain behavior, which makes the possibility of the behavior happening again decrease.
If the event is characterized by giving an additional stimulus, such as corporal punishment, scolding, electric shock, etc., it is called positive punishment; If an event shows that a stimulus originally belonging to the actor has been withdrawn or deprived, it is called negative punishment. According to whether the revoked or deprived event is temporary or permanent, there are two forms of negative punishment: permanent loss and temporary loss. If the former is fined in violation of regulations, the money that was fined (the steel bar that originally belonged to him) no longer belongs to him; The latter is the temporary loss of certain privileges (priority) (such as depriving him/her of the opportunity to raise his/her hand or go out shopping).
Aversion control strategy: a strategy to change the possibility of behavior by providing dislike or disgust stimuli, whether before or after the behavior. If the aversion to stimulus appears before the behavior, but the aversion to stimulus disappears or retreats after the behavior appears, the possibility of behavior A increases, which is the negative reinforcement principle we introduced earlier; If aversion to stimuli appears after an act, then the possibility of this act is reduced, which is an example of positive punishment mentioned in this section.
Therefore, generally speaking, the possibility of aversion control strategy changing people's behavior is realized by negative reinforcement or positive punishment technology.
Due to the suspicious status of punishment as a basic principle and the possible adverse consequences of positive punishment, in the field of behavior correction, it is no longer recommended to take punitive measures to change or reduce problem behaviors. There is only one relatively mild negative punishment measure-penalty time, which still has a place today.