Discipline: Punishment and Accountability

Punishment is an act which emphasizes the power dynamics of a situation, including dependence/autonomy issues. When punishment fails to deter behavior, it tends to lower self-esteem, promote avoidant behavior, and result in anger. Punishment tends to lose its deterrent effect when applied repeatedly, and it can lead paradoxically to behavioral deterioration. In this sense, the delivery of punishment or negative consequences for misbehavior is often an antecedent or trigger to further misbehavior.



While it is often critical to behavioral progress that an individual experiences accountability for his or her behavior, the systematic use of punishment is often contraindicated. Nevertheless, there are times that negative consequences must and will occur. For instance, if an individual becomes aggressive or otherwise misbehaves, it may become necessary to remove him/her from the situation, or to have him/her cool down in another area.



At such times the appropriate role of the staff is one of empathy, even though firm redirection/direction may be needed. The staff member’s stance should be that it is unfortunate that the individual had to experience the undesired consequence, and that when she/he is calmed down, some ways to avoid the situation in the future can be explored. Statements or actions by staff that instead convey a sense of retribution or of “parental” authority in consequating misbehavior will often be counterproductive.



Accountability is often presumed to involve the delivery of negative consequences, but this is simply not the case. As long as systematic observation and feedback is provided, the use of positive consequences to shape behavior tends to be far more productive in terms of supporting positive self-esteem, setting appropriate behavioral expectations, promoting positive, honest and constructive relationships, and in tracking the development of positive and appropriate functional behaviors.