diff --git a/score.go b/score.go
index 2535de4..e3271ec 100644
--- a/score.go
+++ b/score.go
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ type peerStats struct {
 
 	// IP tracking; store as string for easy processing
 	ips []string
+
+	// behavioural pattern penalties (applied by the router)
+	behaviourPenalty float64
 }
 
 type topicStats struct {
@@ -251,9 +254,30 @@ func (ps *peerScore) score(p peer.ID) float64 {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// P7: behavioural pattern penalty
+	p7 := pstats.behaviourPenalty * pstats.behaviourPenalty
+	score += p7 * ps.params.BehaviourPenaltyWeight
+
 	return score
 }
 
+// behavioural pattern penalties
+func (ps *peerScore) AddPenalty(p peer.ID, count int) {
+	if ps == nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	ps.Lock()
+	defer ps.Unlock()
+
+	pstats, ok := ps.peerStats[p]
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+
+	pstats.behaviourPenalty += float64(count)
+}
+
 // periodic maintenance
 func (ps *peerScore) background(ctx context.Context) {
 	refreshScores := time.NewTicker(ps.params.DecayInterval)
@@ -366,6 +390,12 @@ func (ps *peerScore) refreshScores() {
 				}
 			}
 		}
+
+		// decay P7 counter
+		pstats.behaviourPenalty *= ps.params.BehaviourPenaltyDecay
+		if pstats.behaviourPenalty < ps.params.DecayToZero {
+			pstats.behaviourPenalty = 0
+		}
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/score_params.go b/score_params.go
index 84f5a49..6544fc1 100644
--- a/score_params.go
+++ b/score_params.go
@@ -76,7 +76,8 @@ type PeerScoreParams struct {
 	// P7: behavioural pattern penalties.
 	// This parameter has an associated counter which tracks misbehaviour as detected by the
 	// router.
-	// The value of the parameter is the counter, decaying with BehaviourPatternPenaltyDecay.
+	// The value of the parameter is the square of the counter, decaying with
+	// BehaviourPatternPenaltyDecay.
 	// The weight of the parameter MUST be negative (or zero to disable).
 	BehaviourPenaltyWeight, BehaviourPenaltyDecay float64
 
diff --git a/score_test.go b/score_test.go
index 45e2356..9854e18 100644
--- a/score_test.go
+++ b/score_test.go
@@ -741,6 +741,42 @@ func TestScoreIPColocation(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestScoreBehaviourPenalty(t *testing.T) {
+	params := &PeerScoreParams{
+		AppSpecificScore:       func(peer.ID) float64 { return 0 },
+		BehaviourPenaltyWeight: -1,
+		BehaviourPenaltyDecay:  0.99,
+	}
+
+	peerA := peer.ID("A")
+	ps := newPeerScore(params)
+	ps.AddPeer(peerA, "myproto")
+
+	aScore := ps.Score(peerA)
+	if aScore != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("expected peer score to be 0, got %f", aScore)
+	}
+
+	ps.AddPenalty(peerA, 1)
+	aScore = ps.Score(peerA)
+	if aScore != -1 {
+		t.Errorf("expected peer score to be -1, got %f", aScore)
+	}
+
+	ps.AddPenalty(peerA, 1)
+	aScore = ps.Score(peerA)
+	if aScore != -4 {
+		t.Errorf("expected peer score to be -4, got %f", aScore)
+	}
+
+	ps.refreshScores()
+
+	aScore = ps.Score(peerA)
+	if aScore != -3.9204 {
+		t.Errorf("expected peer score to be -3.9204, got %f", aScore)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestScoreRetention(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create parameters with reasonable default values
 	mytopic := "mytopic"