Final answer:
A punishment is typically defined by its effectiveness in decreasing a behavior, thus the answer to the student's question would be true. However, the effectiveness of punishment can vary and may not always lead to the desired decrease in behavior, which can depend on various factors including severity, consistency, and alternative reinforcement strategies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question about whether a punishment must lead to a decrease in behavior to be considered effective is interesting in the context of psychology and behavior management. According to behaviorist theories, the answer would typically be true, as punishment is defined by its ability to decrease the probability of the behavior it follows. However, it is crucial to understand what constitutes effective punishment.
Punishment, such as having a child write, "I will not hit my brother" 100 times, is considered positive punishment because it involves adding an unpleasant experience to decrease a behavior. The success of punishment in changing behavior can vary based on immediacy, severity, and consistency. It is important to note that frequent or severe punishments may lead to negative outcomes such as fear, aggression, or antisocial behavior.
On the other hand, contemporary psychology often emphasizes reinforcement over punishment. Reinforcement involves rewarding desirable behavior to strengthen it, creating a more positive approach that may lead to more sustainable behavior change without the drawbacks associated with punishment. In cases where punishment does not lead to a behavior decrease, it may not be that punishment wasn't genuine but rather that the approach wasn't effective or appropriate for the situation.