What effect does stopping punishment have on behavior?

Stopping punishment typically results in the reduction or elimination of the behavior that was being punished, which is akin to the process of extinction. In conditioning terms, when punishment is removed, the previously punished behavior is no longer suppressed, and as a result, that behavior can re-emerge. This phenomenon is often observed in behavioral interventions; once the aversive consequence associated with the behavior stops, the likelihood of the behavior occurring again increases, leading to a potential resurgence of the behavior.

In the context of behavioral methods, this reflects the importance of understanding how consequences affect behavior over time. While reinforcement strengthens a behavior, punishment serves to decrease it. Thus, when punishment is stopped, just as reinforcement removal can lead to extinction of reinforced behaviors, stopping punishment can result in the revival of previously suppressed behaviors.