In the previous week, you examined positive punishments and the controversial issues involved with using them to help reduce the frequency of behavior. An alternative to positive punishment is negative punishment, where a stimulus is removed or reduced in response to unwanted behavior. A typical negative punishment is the time-out procedure. Whereas response cost procedures entail a clear contingency in which clearly specific reinforcers are withdrawn for problem behavior, time-out procedures constitute a highly generalized withdrawal contingency in which the individual is isolated from as much reinforcement as possible, including simple contact with others (i.e., social reinforcement) and access to tangible items of reinforcing value. In other words, you try to remove the person from the environment and all possible reinforcement.
Time-out procedures are considered desirable alternatives to positive punishers for reducing problem behavior because they are relatively easy to apply, acceptable to most communities, lead to quick suppression of behavior effects, and can be combined with other approaches to develop appropriate and effective interventions.
For this Discussion, you will examine time-out programs and discuss considerations that should be made when designing these types of programs.
To Prepare
- Review the Learning Resources for this week, including the required weekly media programs, to gain an understanding of time-out procedures. Note: It is critical for you to review all media for this week prior to completing this Discussion.
- Post an explanation of some considerations you should make when designing a time-out program.
Resources
- Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Pearson.
- Chapter 15, “Punishment by Removal of a Stimulus” (pp. 352–369)
- Dupuis, D. L., Lerman, D. C., Tsami, L., & Shireman, M. L. (2015). Reduction of aggression evoked by sounds using noncontingent reinforcement and time‐out.Links to an external site. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 48 , 669–674.
- Little, S. G., & Akin-Little, A. (2019).Reductive procedures: Positive approaches to reducing the incidence of problem behaviorLinks to an external site.. In S. G. Little & A. Akin-Little (Eds.), Behavioral interventions in schools: Evidence-based positive strategies (2nd ed., pp. 77–96). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000126-005