Final answer:
It is true that to make punishment effective, it should be unavoidable after the undesirable behavior. This concept is aligned with the law of effect and operant conditioning, wherein behaviors followed by unpleasant consequences are less likely to be repeated. Therefore, the given statement is true.
Step-by-step explanation:
To ensure the effectiveness of punishment, it is true that people who are creating punishment contingencies must design them so that the only way the organism can prevent being punished is to not engage in the punished behavior. In other words, the organism should not be able to escape or avoid punishment after engaging in the punished behavior. This concept is critical because according to the law of effect, proposed by psychologist Edward Thorndike, and later expanded upon by B.F. Skinner with his theory of operant conditioning, behaviors followed by satisfying consequences are more likely to be repeated, while those followed by unpleasant consequences are less likely to be repeated.
When administering punishment, it's important to apply it immediately after the undesirable behavior, as promptness increases effectiveness. Skinner and current psychologists suggest that reinforcement is generally preferred over punishment due to its longer-lasting, positive effects on behavior. Nevertheless, when punishment is used, it should be carefully structured to ensure it is unavoidable following the undesirable behavior, thereby increasing its effectiveness.