The fact that reinforcement can be very effective in changing frequency of behavior doesn’t say that punishment should never be used to change the frequency of behavior.
Reinforcement is useful for increasing frequency of behavior. When decreased frequency of behavior is desired, punishment is the type of intervention to use. (For applied behavior analysis, those are the definitions of reinforcement and punishment).
Sure. Although I wasn’t clear about this, I had in mind the common case of a non-punishing downvoter who simply disagrees with the comment (or wants to see less of its ilk) without saying why. In case punishment is the desired effect, you’re right—immediate is better.
The fact that reinforcement can be very effective in changing frequency of behavior doesn’t say that punishment should never be used to change the frequency of behavior.
Reinforcement is useful for increasing frequency of behavior. When decreased frequency of behavior is desired, punishment is the type of intervention to use. (For applied behavior analysis, those are the definitions of reinforcement and punishment).
Sure. Although I wasn’t clear about this, I had in mind the common case of a non-punishing downvoter who simply disagrees with the comment (or wants to see less of its ilk) without saying why. In case punishment is the desired effect, you’re right—immediate is better.
Either punishment or extinction#Operant_conditioning) (no punishment, no reward).