What is Punishment?
Punishment in behavior change is the delivery of an aversive consequence following an unwanted behavior, intended to reduce the frequency of that behavior. It is one of the oldest behavioral techniques and also one of the most problematic.
How it works
Operant conditioning research shows that punishment suppresses behavior in the presence of the punisher but does not eliminate the underlying motivation. The behavior often returns when surveillance is removed. Punishment also produces side effects: anxiety, avoidance of the punisher, aggression, and learned helplessness. For these reasons, positive reinforcement of alternative behaviors is generally preferred. Punishment is most ethically justified when the behavior is dangerous and immediate suppression is necessary.
Applied example
A parent who yells at a child for running into the street may stop the immediate behavior but creates fear of the parent rather than understanding of road safety. Teaching the child to stop and look (positive alternative) and praising compliance is more effective long-term.
Why it matters
Punishment is a last-resort technique because it suppresses behavior without teaching alternatives, produces emotional side effects, and requires constant enforcement to maintain its effect.
