What is punishment, and does it really work?

Punishment has generated as one of the most effective technique for suppressing social behaviour, and also one of the most controversial. Punishment is a reduction in the likelihood of a response due to the presentation of an aversive stimulus. Does it really work? Research has shown that the use of punishment on children with developmental disabilities has helped to eliminate self-injuries and self-stimulating behaviors as well as in suppressing an undesirable behaviour temporarily. A punishment that immediately follows the behaviour that you want to suppress is effective as well….(short extract)