Problems with Punishment

• A punished behavior is never eliminated, only suppresed


• Increase in the punished behavior get more attention when punished


• the student might not recognize the punishment being linked to a behavior


• It can elicit aggressive or other emotional side effects.


• It may result in the person being punished using escape or avoidance behaviours.


• It can be negatively reinforcing for the person using punishment resulting in overuse or misuse.


• Those observing punishment taking place are more likely to use punishment in the future.


• In particular consider children, their observational skills play a major role in their development of appropriate and inappropriate behaviour, therefore if they observe agressive behaviour they are more likely to engage in this behaviour themselves eg spanking.


• Punishment also raises serious ethical issues.

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