If you have ever done potty training for a toddler, behavior training for a dog, or even had cheat meals while dieting, you have engaged in a technique called operant conditioning. Operant conditioning is a behavior modification technique developed by B.F. Skinner, which uses reinforcement and punishment to shape behavior (Staddon & Cerutti, 2002).
It’s a learning method for altering certain behaviors by utilizing punishment and reward. If you are teaching a dog not to pull on the leash while walking, you might reinforce good behavior by giving them a treat when they do not pull. If you are teaching a toddler to express frustration with words rather than throwing temper tantrums, you might put them in a timeout when they act out. If you are trying to lose weight, you might reward yourself for having a good week of working out and eating well by having pizza for dinner on the weekend.
One of the ways to go about conditioning is through positive punishment. Skinner’s operant conditioning theory provides the foundation for these concepts, explaining how adding an adverse stimulus can decrease unwanted behaviors. The positive part means adding, rather than removing, some kind of stimulus, and the punishment means it is an adverse stimulus. For example, rather than taking their phone away (negative punishment), a parent might force their teen to do extra chores around the house for a month (positive punishment). There are benefits and drawbacks to this particular type of conditioning.
Operant Conditioning and Punishment
Operant conditioning is all about how our behaviors are shaped by the consequences that follow them. This approach to behavior modification helps explain why certain behaviors become more common while others fade away, depending on whether they are met with reinforcement or punishment. In everyday life, operant conditioning is at play whenever we try to increase desired behavior or decrease unwanted behavior, whether in children, pets, or even ourselves.
When it comes to punishment, operant conditioning distinguishes between positive and negative punishment. Positive punishment means adding an aversive stimulus after an undesirable behavior to reduce the likelihood of that behavior occurring again. For example, if a child throws a toy, a parent might assign an extra chore as a consequence—this added task is the unpleasant stimulus meant to discourage the unwanted behavior. In contrast, negative punishment involves removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease a particular behavior. Taking away a child’s favorite toy after they misbehave is a classic example of negative punishment; the loss of something enjoyable serves as a deterrent for future bad behavior.
Reinforcement, on the other hand, is used to encourage appropriate behavior. Positive reinforcement involves adding a desirable stimulus, such as praise or a reward, when a person’s behavior aligns with what’s expected. For instance, a child who helps clean up may receive a sticker or extra playtime, reinforcing the good behavior. Negative reinforcement works by removing an unpleasant stimulus when the desired behavior occurs. In horse training, for example, pressure is released when the horse performs the correct action, making it more likely that the horse will repeat the behavior in the future (Sivamayil et al., 2023).
It’s important to note that in operant conditioning, “positive” and “negative” don’t mean good or bad—they simply refer to whether something is being added or taken away. Positive means introducing a stimulus, while negative means removing one. Understanding this distinction is key to effectively using these behavior modification techniques.
Punishment techniques, including both positive and negative punishment, can be extremely effective in reducing unwanted behaviors when used appropriately. However, physical punishment, such as corporal punishment, can lead to negative outcomes like increased aggression, antisocial behavior, and even mental health problems. Because of these risks, many experts recommend that parents, teachers, and caregivers use alternative methods, such as positive reinforcement and problem-solving, to encourage desired behavior and address behavioral problems.
There are several examples of positive punishment in daily life. A teacher scolding a student for talking out of turn, a parent assigning extra chores for breaking a rule, or a coach making a team run extra laps after a mistake are all ways of adding an unpleasant consequence to reduce inappropriate behaviors. While these methods can be effective in the short term, combining them with reinforcement strategies, like rewarding good behavior, tends to produce more positive outcomes and lasting behavior change.
Ultimately, understanding operant conditioning and the roles of positive and negative punishment, as well as reinforcement, can help anyone looking to influence behavior, whether in children, students, or even animals. By thoughtfully applying these techniques and considering the potential consequences, it’s possible to encourage appropriate behavior, reduce unwanted behaviors, and promote a healthier, more positive environment for learning and growth.
Positive Effects
- It can prevent worse behaviors from occurring. If a parent puts their children in a timeout for screaming at each other, they are working to prevent other undesirable behaviors like hitting. They are attempting to correct lesser, although still undesirable, behaviors in hopes of preventing more escalated behaviors in the child’s behavior.
- It can deter certain behavior. Positive punishment can help reinforce the notion that some behaviors are not acceptable. Especially for young children, it can help them understand that certain behaviors will not be tolerated and try to prevent those behaviors from recurring. Positive punishment is often used to discourage specific actions in parenting and educational settings. Punishment can be a quick way to inhibit unwanted behaviors.
- It illustrates the concept of unwanted consequences. The whole purpose of punishment is not only to prevent behaviors but also to create unwanted consequences. Punishment shows there are undesirable consequences to inappropriate behaviors.
When using positive punishment, it is important to teach children different behaviors as alternatives to the unwanted actions.
Negative Effects of Positive and Negative Punishment
- Punishment can lead to fear, anxiety, and even aggression. It can lead to negative emotional associations. Punishment can also contribute to behavior problems in children, as it may increase the likelihood of psychological and behavioral issues over time. Sometimes, parents resort to physical punishment when they are frustrated or angry, which can have negative emotional and behavioral consequences for their children. Certain punishment techniques may teach fear rather than promote positive change, causing children to avoid the punisher instead of learning appropriate behaviors. Punishment can be effective, but it depends on how it is enforced. If a coach berates a player every time he makes a mistake, he might develop performance anxiety or lash out against team rules due to emotional distress. If not done well, punishment can inadvertently create other undesired behaviors.
- It does not focus on the desired behavior. Punishment focuses more on what not to do rather than what to do. It might seem like semantics, but it is an important reframe to understand. If you think more about what you can do rather than what you cannot do, it will feel different mentally and emotionally. Different parenting styles use punishment and reinforcement in various ways; for example, authoritative parenting tends to use positive reinforcement, while authoritarian parenting may rely more on punishment, which can influence child behavior and development.
- Positive reinforcement is found to be better long term. It helps build intrinsic motivation. At first, the behavior is done to seek a reward, but over time, motivation can turn more towards the positive feelings associated with doing something well (intrinsic), becoming less focused on the reward (extrinsic). In general, most people (but especially children) respond well to encouragement and reinforcement rather than punishment. Positive reinforcement is more effective for lasting changes in a person’s behavior, as it encourages the repetition of desirable actions and supports healthy development.
While reinforcement is found to be better in the long term, punishment can be effective if utilized appropriately. It is important to process through this type of conditioning, making sure you go about it in a way that will be effective and help you achieve the desired behaviors and goals.
Sources
- Kuroda, T., Cançado, C. R. X., & Podlesnik, C. A. (2018). Relative effects of reinforcement and punishment on human choice. European Journal of Behavior Analysis, 19(1), 125–148. https://doi.org/10.1080/15021149.2018.1465754
- Rehman, I., Mahabadi, N., Sanvictores, T., & Rehman, C. I. (2023, August 14). Classical conditioning. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470326/
- Scott, H. K., Jain, A., & Cogburn, M. (2023, July 10). Behavior modification. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459285/
- Sivamayil, K., Rajasekar, E., Aljafari, B., Nikolovski, S., Vairavasundaram, S., & Vairavasundaram, I. (2023). A Systematic study on Reinforcement learning based applications. Energies, 16(3), 1512. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16031512
- Staddon, J. E., & Cerutti, D. T. (2003). Operant conditioning. Annual review of psychology, 54, 115–144. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.54.101601.145124
Michelle is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist working as a counselor for students, faculty, and staff at Abilene Christian University in Texas. She works with athletes, bridging the gap between athletics and mental health at ACU. Michelle ran her own private practice in Austin, Texas where she worked with a diverse population, including couples and families.