Final answer:
Benching a basketball player for repeated personal fouls is a form of disciplinary action that serves as a formal sanction, with the goal of correcting the player's behavior by being removed from the game.
Step-by-step explanation:
In basketball, the practice of benching a player due to repeated personal fouls represents a form of formal sanction within the context of the game's rules. This disciplinary action serves as a punitive measure aimed at correcting the player's behavior and deterring them from committing further fouls. While the decision to bench a player is typically made by the coach, its primary purpose is to penalize the player for norm violations, specifically, the infringement of the game's rules, rather than being driven solely by strategic or tactical considerations.
Benching, in this scenario, can be categorized as a disciplinary action, aligning with the principles of negative punishment. Negative punishment involves the removal of a desirable stimulus to decrease the likelihood of a behavior occurring in the future. By removing the player from the game (the desirable stimulus), the coaching staff aims to convey the consequences of repeated personal fouls, encouraging the player to adjust their behavior to avoid such negative outcomes.
The parallel to disciplining a child who is removed from a playground for pushing others highlights the educational aspect of this disciplinary strategy. The intent is for the player to learn from the consequences of their actions and modify their behavior accordingly. By directly linking the benching to the player's fouls, coaches aim to instill a sense of accountability and responsibility, creating a direct consequence for norm violations and contributing to a more disciplined and sportsmanlike play in future games.