Introduction to Psychology

The Effectiveness of Punishment: Why It Works in Some Cases but Not Others Student’s Name Institution Affiliation Course Name Professor’s Name Date Behavioral modification techniques are fundamental to understanding how humans learn and adapt their actions based on consequences. Throughout my life, I have observed instances where punishment effectively changed my behavior and other situations where it failed to produce the desired outcome. Understanding these two scenarios has proved helpful in personal understanding and eventual growth of character. According to behavioral psychology, punishment refers to the addition or elimination of an undesirable thing in an entity for the aim of preventing or reducing its chances of repeating in future (Grande, 2017). It is usually aimed at inflicting some level or sort of pain or loss in a manner that works to alter behavior. The negative enforcing element is instituted and the positive enforcing element is withdrawn entirely. The actual application and effectiveness of punishment vary widely depending on numerous contextual factors. These might include the type of transgression committed, duration of the transgression and the procedures that exist on what’s to be done incase such acts happen. During my high school years, I experienced effective punishment when my parents restricted my social activities after I received a failing grade in mathematics. I was also given a ‘curfew’ where I was expected to remain indoors and engage in studies for a large part of the day. This consequence directly addressed the behavior (lack of studying) ...