PUNISHMENT

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PUNISHMENT (the reduction of behavior)
Definition The presentation of something
negative to reduce behavior in the future (
--) OR The removal (taking away) of something
positive to reduce behavior in the future
(-- )
It is NOT punishment if the behavior continues or
returns To be punishment, the behavior must
subside and be replaced with a more appropriate
behavior
Least restrictive alternative You want to find a
way to reduce the bad behavior and REPLACE it
(teach) with an acceptable positive behavior in
the simplest way, with the least of amount of
effort possible and to allow a student the right
to learn the new (more appropriate) in the least
restrictive alternative environment.
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Positive Alternatives to DECREASING BEHAVIOR
DRI-Reinforce an incompatible behavior Behaviors
cannot be done at the same time (opposites).
Mutually exclusive behaviors are selected so that
the appropriate behavior/response makes it
physically impossible for the student to engage
in the inappropriate behavior. You are trying to
stop talking out of turn while the teacher is
talking, so if you were using a DRI you would
reinforce not talking out of turn (the two
behaviors must be incompatible) You are trying
to get a student to stop walking around when you
are talking, ask him to sit and reinforce sitting
quietly Other examples
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DRA-Reinforce an alternative behavior that may
occupy the time that the unwanted behavior might
be occurring REDUCE Playing with the equipment
before class starts Reinforce how that student
or other students are helping hand out equipment
to their classmates Reinforce how quickly the
warm-up began Reinforce how well the students
got on their numbers Other examples
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DROOmission training You are reinforcing any
other behavior for not doing the behavior you are
trying to get rid of You are reinforcing NOT
doing something with any other behavior that you
want the student to be doing Any appropriate
behavior can be reinforced but not the behavior
selected for reduction Looking for something
good A student is not running with the group
they way they should be running Reinforce being
dressed properly Reinforce how quickly they came
out of the locker room Reinforce any other
appropriate behavior observed, but do not punish
the behavior being omitted
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Restitution A student does something wrong.
S/he must correctly do what was expected to
reverse his/her wrong. Provides the student with
an opportunity to practice the correct/acceptable
behavior. The teacher is simply asking the
student to do what was asked of them in the
beginning.
Examples Student runs to locker room--make the
student walk back and then walk to the
lockroom Student throws the clip board into
basket---go get the clipboard and put it nicely
in the basket Student puts the pinnie in the
wrong pile. Go back and pick up the pinnie and
put it in the correct pile.
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Overcorrection A student does something wrong.
S/he must not only correct or reverse his/her
wrong, but all the others in the environment. The
offender must actively experience the
inconvenience that the inappropriate behavior
created.
Wrote graffiti on the lockers. Must clean up
that graffiti as well as all the graffiti in the
entire school yard.
Asked students to walk to get to a
station. Student runs. Student must walk to the
station again.And again, and again, and again
Grabs equipment from someone else/does not
share Appoint that student to be an equipment
leader who has to pass out the equipment to all
other students first.
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Things to think about when using restitution or
overcorrection
1. Be firm, direct and business-like Sally, walk
over to the door, and walk back. Now do that four
times
2. Avoid putting okay at the end of the
sentenceimplies that you are asking their
permission.
3. Make sure that the overcorrection is not
ridiculous, nor perceived as corporal punishment
4. Do not reinforce the correct behavior during
restitution. Although that seems logical, it may
be appealing to the student to act
inappropriately just to get the teachers
attention.
5. Reinforcement can be given at another
timeperhaps during class when the student has
demonstrates the appropriate behavior in a
different situation or under different
conditions. Use prompts the next time to set the
student up for success.
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Response Cost Partial withdrawal of
reinforcement (points, tokens, partial withdrawal
of privileges) Gained minutes for free time
loss of minutes of free time Gained points for
privileges, loss of points You take back
something that has already been earned or could
have been earned
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Time out Time out is the withdrawal of the
opportunity to earn reinforcement. Just being
out does not guarantee time out procedures are
being used appropriately. The more positive the
time in, the more powerful the time out. The
time out procedure must produce a decrease in
behavior. Examples Time out area Sitting on
the bench and not starting a game
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• Non-exclusionary time out
• Withdrawal of a positive stimulus or reinforcer
  usually in the form of isolation
• going to the end of the line
• must take your work and go over there
• put your heads on the desk
• taking away equipment that is making
  noise/distracting

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Exclusionary time out A space or place where
all possible reinforcement is gone! Solitary
confinement. Problems Emotional
outbursts Prohibits access to instruction
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• Suggestions for using exclusionary timeout
• Make the space a reasonable size. 4x4, a corner
  of the gym, a marked area that the student must
  stay within.
• Must be devoid of all reinforcers
• Use a timing devise (liter bottles with beans or
  seeds, a stop watch, a game clock)
• Use a short time period 1-5 minutes and increase
  time for additional infractions. Do not exceed 10
  minutes
• Always provide a means for supervision
• Ask the student upon return why they were sent to
  time out