Tim yells at his daughter Allison for soiling her pants. He also threatens to spank her if she ever does it again. Next week, she soils her pants again. According to studies on punishment, why did Tim's approach fail?
A) The threat was a reinforcer.
B) The punishment did not tell her how to change her behaviour.
C) Allison wasn't punished immediately.
D) Yelling is not a form of punishment.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Tim's approach failed because he only threatened punishment without providing any guidance on how to change Allison's behavior. Punishment is only effective when it is immediate and accompanied by clear instructions on how to improve behavior. Yelling is not a form of punishment, and threats can sometimes act as reinforcers by drawing attention to the behavior.

Tim Yells at His Daughter Allison for Soiling Her Pants