PSYB45H3 Chapter 6: CHAPTER 6.docx
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Three parts to the definition: a particular behaviour occurs, a consequence immediately follows the behaviour, as a result, the behaviour is less likely to occur again in the future (the behaviour is weakened) A stimulus event is a punisher when it decreases the frequency of the behaviour it follows. Punisher (aversive stimulus): is a consequence that makes a particular behaviour less likely to occur in the future. You can"t define punishment by whether the consequence appears unfavourable or aversive you can only conclude that a particular behaviour is punishing only if the behaviour decreases in the future. If the behaviour only decreases or stops temporarily, then it can"t be defined as punishment either. Remember that the technical definition of punishment is different from the everyday term. Punishment refers to a process in which the consequence of a behaviour results in a future decrease in the occurrence of that behaviour.
