This article is the second part in the consequence strategies series, focusing on punishment. A reminder of the Three-Term Contingency of Behavior: antecedent – behavior – consequence. Antecedents are the stimuli that come before and evoke behavior, which is the response of an individual and the consequence is the stimulus change that follows and affects the future outcome of behavior (Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2007). Consequence strategies are the reactive approach to changing behavior, looking at the variables that maintain the behavior and making changes once the behavior occurs. In order to implement consequence strategies, one must understand the difference between reinforcement versus punishment and positive versus negative and how these terms interact.
 
What is punishment?
Punishment is a stimulus change, which follows a behavior and decreases the future occurrence of that behavior (Cooper et al., 2007). Similar to reinforcement, not all stimulus changes that occur after a behavior one desires to decrease is considered punishment. When the stimulus, contingent on the behavior, decreases that behavior, it is a punisher. At Shepherds College, we use the term consequences to decrease behavior when discussing and implementing punishment procedures to help us remember their purpose and to avoid the negative connotations our students may associate with punishment. Many times, this word evokes a level of fear or concern, however in order to effectively understand consequences one must understand punishment (Mayer et al., 2014).
 
A reminder of positive and negative in relation to consequences:
Positive is the addition of stimuli after the behavior occurs. Negative is the removal of stimuli after the behavior occurs.
 
Putting it all together with examples observed at Shepherds College:
The following chart demonstrates the relationship between positive and negative on reinforcement (discussed in the previous article) and punishment.
 
Positive Punishment is the addition of stimuli, after a behavior occurs, to decrease future occurrences of that behavior. 

A student cheats on an assignment so the instructor gives him a demerit. The addition of the demerit is a punisher because he does not cheat on future assignments.
 
Negative Reinforcement is the removal of stimuli after a behavior occurs to decrease future occurrences of that behavior. 
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 ​A student brings her cell phone to class so she is required to turn her phone in to the instructor for the remainder of the day. Losing access to her cell phone acted as a punisher because she did not continue to bring her phone to her classes. 
 
Important Ethical Considerations When Utilizing Consequence Procedures:

• Social Significance – When attempting to change a behavior it is important to consider the social significance or the value of the behavior for the individual. It is only appropriate to change behavior that increases the individual’s quality of life in a meaningful and sustainable way (Cooper et al., 2007). It is not appropriate to change someone’s behavior because it makes our lives easier.
• Least Restrictive – When attempting to change a behavior it is important to utilize the least restrictive yet most effective procedure available. In general, reinforcement procedures are considered less restrictive than punishment procedures and should therefore be applied and ruled ineffective before utilizing punishment procedures (Cooper et al., 2007).
• Student Specific – When attempting to change behavior, it is important to remember consequences are student specific and to keep the individual as the focus of the plan. While it would be nice for all consequences to have the same effect on student’s behavior, they don’t. Students are unique individuals with different learning histories, likes, and dislikes. All of these factors and the current environment impact the effect a stimulus will have on a behavior.

 
If you would like to more information on the Consequence Strategies Training Series at Shepherds College, please click on "Consequences" in the Category panel on the right.
 
References:
Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2007). Applied behavior analysis (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ:    Pearson Education, Inc.
Mayer, G. R., Sulzer-Azaroff, B., & Wallace, M. (2014). Behavior analysis for lasting change (3rd ed.). Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY: Sloan Publishing, LLC. 

​This series is a follow up on the article about Antecedent Strategies. Consequence strategies are at the other end of the Three-Term Contingency of behavior, antecedent – behavior – consequence. Antecedents are the stimuli that come before and evoke behavior, which is the response of an individual, and the consequence is the stimulus change that follows and affects the future outcome of behavior (Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2007). While antecedent strategies were the proactive approach to behavior change, consequence strategies are the reactive approach. Consequence strategies look at the variables that maintain the behavior and making changes once the behavior occurs. In order to implement consequence strategies, one must understand the difference between reinforcement versus punishment and positive versus negative and how these terms interact. This article is a two-part series on Consequence Strategies and will focus on reinforcement.

What is a stimulus?
A stimulus is simply a single or combination of physical objects or events that affects behavior (Mayer, Sulzer-Azaroff, & Wallace, 2014). Stimuli might include internal events such as pain or illness and external objects or events such as the weather, the volume on the music, or the people in the room. Antecedent strategies and consequence strategies utilize stimuli to affect behavior.

What is reinforcement?
Reinforcement is a stimulus change, which follows a behavior and maintains or increases the future occurrence of that behavior (Cooper et al., 2007). Not all stimulus changes that occur after a behavior are considered reinforcement. If the stimulus change does not maintain or increase the behavior, it might simply be a reward. When the stimulus, contingent on the behavior, maintains or increases that behavior, it is a reinforcer. At Shepherds College, we use the term consequences to increase behavior when discussing and implementing reinforcement procedures, to help us remember their purpose.

What is POSITIVE in relation to consequences?
The first thoughts many have when hearing the word positive in relation to consequences is good, earning something, a reward, or reinforcement. However, positive in the consequence world, is simply the addition of stimuli after a behavior occurs. It is possible to have positive reinforcement and positive punishment.
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What is NEGATIVE in relation to consequences?
Similarly, when hearing the word negative in relation to consequences the thought is punishment, bad, or taking something away. However, negative is the opposite of positive, simply the removal of stimuli after a behavior occurs. Just like there is positive reinforcement and punishment, there is negative reinforcement and negative punishment.
To find out how these strategies are implemented at Shepherds College, click here to read the entire article and get the support documents