ABA Exam CoachLessons · G. Behavior-Change Procedures
G.17 · Positive vs. negative punishment
Time-out, response cost, overcorrection: they sound like a list of things to memorize, but they all come down to one simple question. Did the behavior go down? Let's break it down so you can sort any vignette in seconds.
Key takeaway
Punishment is defined by its effect: it counts only if the behavior becomes less frequent in the future. Positive punishment adds a stimulus, like a reprimand or overcorrection. Negative punishment takes one away, as in time-out or response cost. Good design starts with the function of the behavior, reinforces a replacement, keeps time-in rich in reinforcement, and uses data to fade the procedure. Under Code 2.15, punishment comes only after less intrusive options have failed, or when the behavior's risk of harm outweighs the procedure's.
Punishment is defined by its effect: it counts only if the behavior becomes less frequent in the future. Positive punishment adds a stimulus, like a reprimand or overcorrection. Negative punishment takes one away, as in time-out or response cost. Good design starts with the function of the behavior, reinforces a replacement, keeps time-in rich in reinforcement, and uses data to fade the procedure. Under Code 2.15, punishment comes only after less intrusive options have failed, or when the behavior's risk of harm outweighs the procedure's.
Members get the full lesson video, notes and a 5-question test
The video walks through the idea, worked examples, the trap people fall into and an exam-style question. The notes and the checkpoint come with it, and your results feed your Where to focus plan.