You might wonder how the term “positive punishment” even makes sense. After all, how can any type of punishment be considered positive? You’re right; most people don’t associate punishment with anything pleasant. The confusion often stems from the word “positive.” Society typically uses the word “positive” to describe something uplifting, supportive, and life-enhancing.
In ABA Therapy (Applied Behavior Analysis), considered the touchstone of autism therapy, positive and negative punishment are used to decrease undesired behaviors. However, they work in different ways, and understanding these distinctions can make a difference in how you approach behavior management.
If you’re navigating concerns about potential autistic symptoms in your teenager or are searching for ways to quell stimming or repetitive body movements, Heartlinks is here to guide you. Understanding the difference between positive and negative punishments will help you learn how our evidence-based approaches can help your child on the spectrum thrive.
The Theory of Operant Conditioning
Developed by B.F. Skinner, the grandfather of ABA therapy, operant conditioning is based on the principles of rewards and punishment. The theory explains that behaviors are shaped by their consequences. Rewarded behaviors are reinforced and, therefore, are likely to be repeated, whereas punished behaviors are discouraged and tend to decline.
ABA utilizes these concepts by methodically reinforcing desired behaviors and reducing problematic ones. This evidence-based and structured approach helps children on the spectrum develop the necessary life skills, improve communication, and enhance their social skills. A crucial element of this approach is understanding the four functions of behavior, which then help identify why specific behaviors occur and how to address them effectively.
Humans naturally associate behavior with its outcomes, whether good or bad. Rewarding desired behaviors strengthens them, while punishing undesirable ones often leads to their decline. Operant conditioning highlights four ways of influencing behavior based on the type of consequence and intended result. These four types are:
- Positive punishment: Adding something unpleasant to discourage a behavior, such as introducing a time-out, to prevent the unwanted behavior.
- Positive reinforcement: Adding something pleasant to encourage a behavior, like offering praise or a reward to reinforce desirable actions.
- Negative punishment: Something is removed from the situation, making the behavior less likely to continue or reoccur. Something pleasant is removed from the child to discourage their unwanted behavior.
- Negative reinforcement: Something is removed from the situation that increases the likelihood of the behavior continuing or reoccurring.
What Are The Two Types of Punishment in Psychology?
In psychology, punishment refers to any change that follows a behavior and reduces the likelihood of that behavior being repeated. There are two types of punishment: positive and negative.
Positive Punishment
Positive punishment, also known as ABA or “punishment by application,” involves adding a consequence after an undesirable behavior occurs. It’s important to note that simply adding a consequence does not automatically make it a positive punishment. For a result to be considered a positive punishment, the consequence must directly reduce the occurrence of the unwanted behavior.
Additionally, any positive punishment should be closely linked to the targeted behavior and followed quickly after it occurs. Incorporating autistic assent into any intervention ensures that the child’s preferences and well-being are prioritized throughout the process. Preference assessments help identify motivators, allowing for positive reinforcers or alternatives that ethically encourage desired behaviors.
Example of Positive Punishment
Let’s say your autistic child is prone to temper tantrums in the school play area. When a tantrum starts, your child’s therapist introduces a time-out to discourage this harmful behavior. The time-out involves temporarily removing the child from the play area, creating an unpleasant consequence (losing the opportunity to play) to discourage the behavior.
Positive punishment should be used sparingly and ethically, focusing on teaching appropriate alternative behaviors through positive reinforcement. ABA strategies like shaping, modeling, error correction, or prompt hierarchy can effectively reinforce positive behaviors and guide the child toward better coping mechanisms.
Negative Punishment
Negative punishment, or “punishment by removal,” removes a desirable stimulus to reduce the probability of an undesirable behavior. It is often confused with negative reinforcement, which also strengthens the possibility of a particular response by removing an unpleasant consequence.
Example of Negative Punishment
Let’s say your autistic daughter exhibits inappropriate sensory-seeking behaviors, such as scratching her arms until she draws blood or spinning only when in a crowd.
The therapist might use negative punishment by removing access to a preferred self-soothing activity right after these behaviors are exhibited. This approach aims to reduce the chance of the behavior by helping her associate the inappropriate action with losing something she values and enjoys.
At the same time, the therapist might work on teaching and reinforcing more appropriate ways for her to meet her sensory needs. Using ABA therapy techniques, such as tacting, token economy, DTT, discriminative stimulus, or errorless learning, the professional could show your daughter sensory alternatives, such as squeezing a stress ball, using a weighted blanket, or hand-flapping in a designated safe area. This ensures the focus remains on guiding her toward positive coping mechanisms while discouraging harmful behaviors.
What Are The Effects of Using Punishment?
Yes, punishment can be an effective tool for decreasing undesired behaviors. But it’s not a flawless approach. Side effects may arise from its use, particularly in children on the spectrum. In some extreme situations, poorly applied punishment can contribute to autistic regression, where a child loses previously acquired skills or behaviors, thereby making their situation worse. The following is a brief list of these side effects.
1. Emotional Distress
When abused, either type of punishment can cause emotional distress in autistic children, especially if it’s applied too much or without a proper explanation. Non-verbal autistic children or those with low-functioning autism, who may struggle with understanding the reason for their punishment and have difficulty expressing their feelings about it, are particularly susceptible. Feelings of anxiety, fear, or depression may arise. This type of anguish can and often does interfere with an autistic child’s ability to learn and participate in ongoing therapy.
2. Aggression
Whether positive or negative punishment can lead to aggressive behavior when used excessively or incorrectly. When children on the spectrum are often punished, they can frequently become resentful towards their therapist and lash out aggressively.
3. Passive Acceptance
If your child with ASD has been subjected to frequent punishment without an indication of how it can be improved, they may develop a sense of helplessness. This can hinder their emotional regulation, making it even more challenging for them to manage their reactions and behaviors effectively. In essence, this means they’ve given up on improving their undesirable behavior because they believe it won’t make a difference no matter what they do.
To avoid this from happening, ABA therapy at home can be vital by providing a structured environment where positive reinforcement is emphasized. Doing this teaches your child that their actions can lead to positive outcomes.
When to Use Positive and Negative Punishment?
1. Type of Behavior
Consider the nature of the behavior being addressed before applying any punishment in an ABA therapy session. If, for example, your high-functioning autistic child has a strong food aversion to eating soups, start with positive reinforcement by rewarding them with stickers every time they take a spoonful of soup. You can also use negative reinforcement aba by making the child stay at the table until they take a spoonful of soup.
If that doesn’t work, a negative punishment could be used, such as removing their tablet from the table until they sample the soup.
2. The Child’s Sensory Needs
Consider the child’s sensory needs when deciding on a punishment. Many autistic children have sensory processing disorders and may be hypersensitive to certain stimuli, such as noises or bright lights. In these cases, using negative punishment may be a wiser option.
3. The Professional’s Comfort-Level
The ABA-certified therapist needs to consider the client’s comfort level with the different types of punishment. Whether the therapist is conducting occupational or speech therapy, if the client is uncomfortable with the suggested punishment, the therapist may not implement it effectively or consistently.
The Positives and Negatives with Heartlinks
Suppose you once believed that “positive punishment” has no place in therapy. In that case, we hope this guide has shown how it and negative punishment can yield favorable results when applied thoughtfully and ethically.
At Heartlinks, we mix compassion with proven ABA strategies to help children on the spectrum thrive. With customizable autism ABA therapy services, we ensure that every young person receives the support they need to reach their full potential.
Contact us today to learn how Heartlinks ABA can help your child achieve growth and success.