Question

Ms. Smythe keeps Eric after school whenever he swears in class. Even though Eric has been kept afterschool each day for the past three weeks, his swearing has increased rather than decreased. Given what we knowabout the effects of punishment on behavior, Ms. Smythe should probably conclude that:

A. Her punishment is only temporarily suppressing Eric’s swearing.
B. The punishment is too severe.
C. Eric’s swearing will decrease eventually.
D. Staying after school is reinforcing for Eric.

Answer 1

She should conclude that:

D. Staying after school is reinforcing for Eric.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reinforcer can be something that the punisher thinks will decrease the unwanted behavior but there are times when that is not the case.

If Eric does not see the school stay back as bad or gets irritated by it instead of learning from it, it does not help hi in a way that it should have to curb his swearing.

Thus the teacher needs to find a different way to curb his swearing because this punishment is only helping that habit.