The new governor hires you to devise a plan to stop bullying in the schools. Based on the principle of insufficient punishment, what might be a good way to punish bullies?
A) After the first offense, dismiss them from school for the day
B) A "three strikes and you're out" policy in which the first two incidents go unpunished, but the third leads to expulsion and being placed in a juvenile detention center
C) Physically punish them by letting teachers slap them with yardsticks
D) Tell teachers to give a mild punishment that barely gets the bully to stop the behavior and to be consistent with this mild punishment

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The principle of insufficient punishment suggests that punishments that are too severe or inconsistent with the offense may actually reinforce the behavior. Mild, consistent punishment that is immediately applied after the behavior is observed can be effective in reducing the behavior. Therefore, option D, which suggests giving a mild punishment that is consistent and immediate, might be the most effective in reducing bullying behavior in schools. Option A is too severe as dismissing them from school can have long-term negative consequences, option B is too lenient as it allows two instances to go unpunished, and option C is not appropriate as physical punishment is not acceptable in schools.

The New Governor Hires You to Devise a Plan to Stop