This page is a component of the Glossary of the Dog Science, CBC
Dog Training Workshop, and an element of the Dog Science Network


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Benign Punishment

When punishment produces no side effects whatsoever, or when a punishment procedure has unintended consequences that are so slight as to be far outweighed by the beneficial effects produced by the intervention, punishment is said to be benign.

When punishment is employed in conjuntion with the vigorous and conscientious reinforcement of alternative behaviors, as it is when you plug-in the formula for changing behavior, it is infinitely less likely to produce the troublesome side effects that can occur when it is dispensed in the absence of counterbalancing procedures.

Benign punishment is differentiated from detrimental punishment which does, in fact produce either pain, injury, psychological trauma, or the disruption of social relationships.


Go to the Punishment Procedures Index for more on punishment and how to properly dispense aversives


Go to the index of the Glossary of Terms


This page is a component of the Glossary of the Dog Science, CBC
Dog Training Workshop, and an element of the Dog Science Network