Lecture 6: Problem Behaviours

Question 1

5 Common problem behaviours

Answer 1

1. Non compliance
2. Tantrum
3. Aggression
4. Self-injury
5. Property destruction

Question 2

Explanations for behaviours

Answer 2

• Attributing problem behaviours to diagnostic labels ( ADHD)
• Attributing problem behaviour to mental states (frustrated, anxious, stubborn)

Question 3

Problems with common explanations

Answer 3

Circular reasoning

Cant help you find a solution since they cant be directly observed

Question 4

Antecedents to behaviour problems

Answer 4

• Stimuli
• People
• Place
• Activity
• Task demands
• Time of day

Question 5

Consequence of behavioural problems

Answer 5

• i get something i want
  (tangible item, attention)
• i escape/avoid something
  ( undesired items, unwanted attention)

Question 6

Common antecedent problems

Answer 6

Task demands: are too easy or too difficult, too long
Environmental factions: waiting, pace, distractions, frequency of positive reinforcement
Social Factors: group vs alone
Physiological factors

Question 7

ABC framework

Answer 7

Define problem behaviour
Determine the function of the behaviour: whats the contingency that reliably follows the behaviour
Behaviour therapist

Question 8

ABC for behaviour

Answer 8

A - change the antecedents
B - teach new behaviours
C- change the consequences

Question 9

Functions of problem behaviour

SEAT

Answer 9

S - sensory
E - escape
A- attention
T- tangible

Question 10

Sensory or Automatic reinforcement Problem Behaviour

Answer 10

This is done when the child gets reinforcement from the behaviour even when they are on their own
Ex. rocking, laughing loudly, screaming by themselves

Question 11

Solutions for sensory problem behaviours

Answer 11

They do this when there is a lack of stimulation from the activity at hand so redirect their attention to other materials

Question 12

Escape/Avoidance Problem Behaviour

Answer 12

Need to think if the behaviour is related to the difficulty of the task

Question 13

Solution for escape/avoidance behaviours

Answer 13

• Adjust task difficulty
• Provide more prompts
• dont stop task, follow through with extinction
• differentially reinforce on task-behaviour

Question 14

Solution for attention seeing behaviour

Answer 14

Do not reinforce it, ignore it if possible

Differentially reinforce other behaviours “catch him being good”

Question 15

Tangible Problem Behaviour

Answer 15

Consider if the problem occurring is happening because the child has no other way of asking what they want

Question 16

Solution to Tangible Problem Behaviours

Answer 16

Create pictures of the items the child wants
Teach requesting skills
Put requesting via problem behaviour on extinction

Question 17

What are antecedent manipulations and what do they do

Answer 17

They are actions made in eliminating triggers of problem behaviours (making them irrelevant)

Question 18

Examples of antecedent manipulations (8)

Answer 18

• Use visual supports
• rule review or social story
• warning prior to removal of desired item
• giving choice
• changing physical set up
• removing potentially aversive stimuli
• behaviour momentum: interspersing easy tasks with hard task
• errorless teaching (use prompts)

Question 19

What is behaviour support

Answer 19

Focus of intervention must be on changing problem CONTEXT not problem behaviour

Question 20

What is the goal of behaviour modification

Answer 20

Replace problem behaviour with appropriate one

• Make it inefficient
• Make it ineffective

Question 21

Behaviour Modification: Inefficient

Answer 21

• Want the new reinforcement to be bigger and faster
• Want the new behaviour to be of less effort or more efficient
• Behaviour typically replaced with communication

Question 22

Behaviour Modification: Ineffective AKA extinction

Answer 22

• Want to withhold or prevent access to reinforcer that was previously a consequence to problem behaviour
• You need to know the reinforcing variable
  (ex. if it was attention, withhold attention)

Question 23

What is an extinction burst

Answer 23

A brief increase in frequency, duration or intensity before behaviour decreases
You cant ignore behaviours that put others at risk

Question 24

Types of Punishments

Answer 24

Time out (not good for escape behaviours)
Response Cost (can be used with token system)
Reprimands
Response blocking

Question 25

What are the basic guidelines for behavioural control

Answer 25

• Be familiar with agencies policies
• get background information
• Be proactive (have things organized so there is less waiting time)
  Read clients cues (if there is a decline in response make a switch)
• be respectiful
• be kind but firm
• give choices
• set up clear expectations
• ensure they understand
• provide opportunities for reinforcement
• vary tasks, materials, and activities
• Use ABC data for SLP
• Ignore the problem behaviour unless a chance the child will be hurt

Question 26

Dos and Donts guidelines

Answer 26

• dont engage in power struggle
• do not use threats
• do not use sarcasm
• do not allow the client to repeatedly make errors
• do not allow behaviour to escalate
• do not tell them what you dont want, instead tell them what you do

Question 27

7 Steps to Instructional Control

Answer 27

1. you are in control of the good stuff
2. you are fun
3. say what you mean and mean what you say
4. premack principle (following your directions or demonstrations happens before you allow them the reinforcement)
5. Move from continuous to variable schedule
6. Know childs reinforcers
7. Extinction: positive reinforcement will not happen with problem behaviours