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 was not punished immediately.
D) Yelling is not a form of punishment.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Tim's approach failed because it did not tell Allison how to change her behavior. Merely threatening to spank her did not provide her with an alternative or more appropriate behavior to engage in. Punishments are more effective when they are accompanied by clear instructions or guidance on how to change the behavior.

Tim Yells at His Daughter Allison for Soiling Her Pants