Punishment is an instrumental conditioning procedure in which a behavior is suppressed through
the use of an aversive stimulus. When the target behavior is not done, the participant does not
receive punishment (Domjan, 2015). To ensure that my friend's puppy is responding
appropriately to the aversive stimulus, there are things she should do. First, when instituting the
form of punishment that she sees fit for the target behavior, she needs to be as consistent as
possible. She cannot let punishable acts go unpunished (Domjan, 2015). Next, she may not
always immediately catch her new puppy in the act of doing something punishable, but when she
does the punishment needs to happen and happen quickly (Domjan, 2015). If she is inconsistent
with her punishments, the puppy may not grasp what it is being punished for (Domjan, 2015).
Lastly, it is not beneficial to enforce punishment when she is frustrated or angry. Punishing as a
result of anger or frustration is a form of abuse and is not a form systematic training (Domjan,
2015). If she does these three things, she has a much better chance of suppressing the targeted
behavior.
To overcome fear in scripture, the common theme and narrative is to trust in God and rely
on his strength. For example, Isaiah 41:10 is a reassurance from God to not fear because He is
with us (ESV, 2001). This command in scripture makes sense when we realize and understand
who God is and His care for humanity. In Romans, the author Paul, says that if God is with us
then no one and nothing can stand in opposition to Him and therefore us, we have nothing to fear
(ESV, 2001). When I first joined the military, I was afraid. It was a new environment, I was far
from home, and I knew no one. I knew and I felt that God had led me to join the Army but I was
afraid of the unknown and how the events in my life would play out. But I did what scripture
commanded and trusted in God's strength and comfort and made it through. I understood that
what was before me was not only a lot smaller than God but was also His doing. If God had led
