Posted by alexandra_k on August 28, 2005, at 1:26:38
In reply to Reinforcement of behavior, posted by gardenergirl on August 27, 2005, at 18:38:30
- A punisher is something that reduces the frequency of behaviour.
- A reinforcer is something that increases the frequency of behaviour.
Ignoring someone is a negative punisher because it is taking away something that the person wants (a reinforcer) in order to extinguish the behaviour.
After delivery of a reinforcer ceases the person basically gets worse for a while. The behaviour becomes more intense, more frequent, and more variable. There can be a danger in this depending on the severity of the kinds of behaviours that are being extinguished.
-Punishment is not as effective as reinforcing a viable alternative behaviour. Presumably the initial behaviour led to the fulfillment of some urge (or drive reduction) and so it may be unethical to extinguish a behaviour where that leads to the unfulfillment of need.
- I think that means figuring out what function the behaviour serves and working out viable alternatives.
- Then one needs to actively reinforce the alternatives.
Or at least, that would seem to be more humane to me...
poster:alexandra_k
thread:547344
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20050819/msgs/547468.html