Skinner found that the optimum period between response and reinforcement is about half a second, i.e. almost immediately. This is very important. For example, if a parent wants to reward or punish a child, then to be effective it should be done straight away. Wait until your father gets home!… Don’t you know? – Skinner said that delayed reinforcement is not effective! This also explains one reason why the penal system often doesn’t work.
