Using Punishment Ethically and with Fidelity
Punishment is only 'bad' when used often, improperly, without a good FBA and a lack of respect for the child by persons in need of more training. Punishment, ('Reduction Strategies'), is as much a part of the Principles of Human Behavior as is Reinforcement.
Both punishment and reinforcement can be used unethically leading to significant problems. Misuse of punishment (increased use of default technologies) connects to ignoring structure as part of a poor behavioral assessment which fails to prioritize effective instruction. It can also lead to a range of harmful side effects from (but not limited to) counter control and the repression of behavior to a focus on safe targets.
Punishment and reinforcement happen naturally every day. If folks who punch a timeclock come in late, they lose pay. People stopped for speeding get a ticket with a response cost (fine). Someone who fails to complete a promise to a friend might not hear from them for a period of time. A child teasing their cat once too often may get scratched.
Misuse of reinforcement is also common. Waving a preferred toy (or cookie) in front of an escalated child reinforces the escalation not that they settled down. Constant use of high preference items (i.e., electronics) only 'teaches' access to the item. Kids may only produce in the presence of the reinforcing agent.
Edibles have too many other problems and side effects to review now. In 45 years, I have never used or needed edible reinforcement. Not distinguishing between that which is reinforcing (behavior goes up) versus punishing (behavior goes down) is also a common problem.
Punishment does not teach. But when effectively integrated into a BIP, it can help neutralize the behavioral chain and embedded reinforcer(s) which functionally maintain Interfering Behavior.
Prioritization must always be on minimally intrusive procedures, teaching alternatives, restructuring the environment and being sure primary persons are interacting in a positive, productive matter. Children are too often punished for the failure of primary others.
Research on FCT references the need to break this chain. While FCT prioritizes functionally appropriate alternative communicative behaviors, related Interfering Behaviors cannot remain effective. Breaking the chain also helps increase the EO for the individual to learn and utilize appropriate alternative communication strategies.
Punishment strategies should never be used without doing a punisher assessment (since one person's punisher is another's reinforcer) followed by justifying use of more intrusive procedures.
Consider:
The level of intrusiveness must balance with the relevance and need for positive and safe behavioral change.
Interventions must be driven by a comprehensive FBA always using the least intrusive strategies required to produce the positive change.
All instructional strategies/methods and the use of punishment/interrupt/redirect strategies must be sequentially documented and always data based.