The first rule of punishment is:
A. Use it only for self-injury.
B. Use it sparingly.
C. Do not use it.
D. It happens.
Answer: B. Use it sparingly.
Punishment should be applied with caution and in a limited amount of cases. Although it is possible to achieve results with punishment, this should be the last tool in your toolkit rather than an inherent concept of behavior shaping. Reward is most effective when it has an element of punishment in the form that if something incorrect happens, then certain rewards would not be forthcoming. The objective is to administer the least amount of punishment necessary in order for undesired behavior or actions. Excessive punishment can create psychological harm and also hurt relationships. The most successful punishment is inflicted with just enough intensity so as to stifle the undesired activity. Physical punishment in a very harsh manner is never justified. In the end, recess should be about incentivizing good behavior as opposed to penalizing bad behavior . Through a cautiously thought out and slow application process, punishment should be implemented minimally but strategically as part of an overall behavioral change program.
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