By: Thomas A. Beitz

Parts 1 and 2 of this series examine the fundamental characteristics of B.F. Skinner’s operant conditioning theory. These two segments discuss positive and negative reinforcement. If you would like to review them, you may visit my website at: www.smartdogtrainer.com and click on Articles.

 Punishment is not a word that you hear too often with regards to dog training. One definition of punishment; severe, rough, or disastrous treatment prompts people’s minds to conjure up all kinds of abusive ideas. This especially applies to animals. However, Skinner defined punishment as a means of inhibiting (stopping) some kind of unwanted behavior. Although most people consider punishment as negative, Skinner uses the term “negative punishment” to indicate that a reward is being negated, subtracted or removed from the training sequence. In other words, by withholding a reward when your dog fails to comply with your command “the good things in life” go away.  

Here is an example: Let us assume that every puppy is motivated by “treats.” Your puppy can be trained to perform the sit position by being lured by the treat. Immediately at the moment when his behind touches the floor you must deliver the reward (treat). If you perform this luring technique over and over your puppy will catch on rather quick. After 15 minutes he will sit every time upon your command. He may “sit” seven times in a row, yet on the eighth request your puppy’s response is to just stand there and ignore you. Would you give him a treat? No! You would withhold the reward because he failed to comply with your command.  This is what B.F. Skinner meant by negative punishment.    

Remember that “negative punishment” is a way of inhibiting (stopping) an undesirable behavior. In this example we withhold the reward because we want to stop the dog’s resistance to the “sit” command. The puppy will learn (become conditioned to) that if he doesn’t obey, he doesn’t get rewarded. But, what if your puppy isn’t motivated by treats at all? What if your puppy has such a strong chase drive that it runs after anything that is moving? Well, I guess that negative punishment doesn’t work with your puppy. You may have a child who doesn’t respond to negative punishment either.    

Perhaps you are waiting for a profound answer to these frustrating questions. The fact of the matter is, operant conditioning is a Four Part Learning Model.  There is nothing more likely to lead to error and frustration than to begin with a part rather than the whole. The key to negative punishment is “desire.” What is it that really captures your puppy’s attention the most? In the next article we will examine the fourth and final part of B.F. Skinner’s theory of operant conditioning known as “positive punishment.”  

Please keep in mind that all four parts of this learning model work synergistically of one another, NOT independently. They need to be elastic and flexible depending upon your unique circumstances.