Discussion Question

A key concept in operant conditioning is to examine how the consequences of a behavior contribute to the likelihood of the behavior occurring again.  Is there a behavior of yours (or of someone you know) that you would like to eliminate (extinguish)?  If so, do you think reinforcement or punishment would be more effective in extinguishing the behavior?  Elaborate your response by stating the specific behavior, describing how you might use reinforcement (positive and negative) and punishment (positive and negative) to modify the behavior.  In your opinion, which method would be more effective?  Defend your viewpoint with scholarly evidence.  In addition, include a discussion of the ethical implications of punishment.

Learning: Negative Reinforcement vs. Punishment