Unit 1 Flashcards
Introduction
- History of reducing & replacing Problem Bx, put into context
- 2 Approaches
1. Topography-based txt model
2. Function-based txt model
Experimental Roots of ABA
*Early applications of behavior analysis were conducted by graduates from behavioral experimental psychology programs
The Early Days of ANA (1950s-1960s)
- Skinner’s students & other EAB trained persons go “beyond the box: ….from lab to life! (1950s- 1960s)
- They worked in “mental” hospitals, developmental centers, prisons schools and in the community
- Rutherford (2009)
The Pioneers of ABA
- Used methods of EAB to:
- Fig out what to do
- Evaluate thr effectiveness
- Were excellent prob solvers
- Solid grounding in the principles of operant & respondent learning
- ABA formalized in 1968 due to thr work
“Don’t Call, Us, Call Them…”
- Many early Bx analysts were sent referrals for: Cases others had tried but failed “The Deep End cases”, Severe & persistent problems
- The referral sources wanted us to do “Bx Mgmt” rather than doing “Therapy” or teaching skills
Demand for Behavioral Services
- Some early bx analysts focused on teaching skills, esp to young children with autism
- Still the greatest demand at the time was for bx analysts willing to work in severe bx
Behavior Modification
- Cookbook approach
- Topography-based
- Technologists
- Procedures at its core
Behavior analysis
- Individualized
- Function-based
- Analysts
- Basic principles at its core
ABA Resurfaces
*The function-Based approach takes hold due to:
- Pressure from human rights advocates to ban aversive & restrictive procedures
- A new generation of applied researchers starting in the late 1970s & blossoming in the 1990s
Problem Behavior
- Persistent pattern of Bx that interferes with attainment of meaningful outcomes. Problem Bx May:
- Minimize access to reinforcers
- Max likelihood of contacting punishers
- Result in restricted access to the community
Types of Problems With Behavior:
Topography Issues
- Criminal/ illegal
- Harmful/ dangerous or presents a health risk
- Damaging to property or materials
- Likely to become severe/ serious
- Of great concern to caregivers
- Interferes with access/ participation in the community or social relations
- Having a negative impact on work/ school performance
Types of Problems with Bx Parameter Issues:
- Rate
- IRT
- Duration
- Severity (too severe) or intensity (too intense)
- Occurs at the wrong time or place
Give at least one reason why behavior would be categorized as problematic:
“minimizes access to reinforcers,” “maximizes likelihood of contacting punishers,” or “results in restricted access to the community”
Other Terms for Problem Behavior
- Severe prob Bx (focus of most research & practice)
- Challenging bx
- Maladaptive bx
- Bx excesses
- Bx problems
Some Questions for Identifying Problem Bx
-Criminal/ illegal?
-Life-threatening to self or other?
-Harmful/ dangerous to self or others?
-Presenting a health risk to sell or others?
-Damaging property or materials?
-Likely to become severe or serious?
great concern to caregivers?
-Interfering with access to, participation in or acceptance in the community?
-Interfering with social relations?
-Having neg impact on performance in school or work?
Reference for the questions
-Some of the previous questions are from the “subjective assessment of prob bx scale” with some modifications
Some General Terms for Procedures for Problem Behavior
- Bx reduction procedures
- Decelerative or decal procedures
- Abative procedures
- Contingency-breaking procedures
- Replacement procedures: Reducing bx is not solely accomplished by using punishment/ Extinction!
Topography of Behavior:
*The physical nature of the response e.g. Raising my hand
Topography-Based Treatment Model
*Non-individualized treatment model in which treatment is selected based on the form of the response & selected treatments often involve the use of powerful Rxs & punishers
History of the Topography-Based Treatment Model
*1960s - 1980s: Treatments commonly based on topography of the Bx prob
Use of Powerful Consequences in the Topography-Based Model
- Powerful Rxs for:
- Absence of the prob bx
- Occurrence of incompatible &/ or appropriate Bx
- Powerful punishers for:
- Prob bx
- Precursors to prob Bx
“CookBook” Approach
Approach in which the treatment is selected based on the Topography of the response rather than being customized to the person & Function of the Bc
-A 1-size fits all approach
Analytical Failure of the Topography-Based Model
- There was a Technological drift & analysis was forgotten
- Structural approach
The Topography-Based Model Resulted in the Proliferation of:
- Differential Rx of other Bx (DRO)
- Artificial & often unhealthy Rxs e.g. candy, cigs
- Highly aversive or restrictive consequences for prob Bx e.g. water mist, restraints
Common Targets in the Topography-Based Model
- “Dead person” Bx (the absence of bx)
- “Be quiet, be docile, be still”
- “Good being quiet”
- Good sitting
- Good quiet hands
- Compliance
- Do what I tell you to do
The topography-based model relies on _______ reinforcers and punishers.
-powerful
Limitations of the Topography-Based Treatment Model
- Actual reinforcer maintaining the prob bx were not withheld
e. g. time-out used even if the bx was maintained by social neg Rx - Actual maintaining consequences not used to increase replacement Bx
Limitations of the Topography-Based Treatment Model (Con…t)
- Contingent relations btw prob bx & maintaining consequences not broken
- Prob bx was suppressed under tight stimulus control
- Changes in Bx failed to maintain & generalize
Function of Behavior Revisited
*Effect of a response on the Environment E.g: Johnny and Sue’s aggression
Function-Based Treatment Model
*Relies on the analysis of the function of Bx to develop individualized treatment plans
E.g. of Function-Based Treatment
- Mary spits & ppl back away
- Function determined: Escape
- Function-based treatment: Mary taught to say. “Back up”
Advantaged of the Function-Based Treatment Model
- Keeps “Analysis” in Bx analysis
- Treatments selected based on function of Bx
- Not relent on arbitrary, powerful reinforcers & punishers
- More effective
- Aversive/ restrictive procedures seldom used
Name two advantages of the function-based treatment model:
“The function-based treatment model is more effective and allows for less use of aversive and restrictive procedures,” or listed other advantages such as, “It allows for individualized treatment, addresses the actual contingencies surrounding the problem behavior, doesn’t rely on arbitrary powerful reinforcers and punishers, and promotes the ongoing analysis of behavior.”
Function-Based Treatment Model: Key Developments
- “Communicative function of problem Bx” & the functional assessment movement
- The Functional analysis (or experimental analysis) movement
- Brian Iwata & colleagues
“Communicative Function of Problem Behavior”
- Resulted in development of:
- Functional (descriptive) assessment
- Functional communication training & replacement bx
- Different trt procedures for different “functions” of bx
- For e.g. extinction for Bx maintained by Sr+ Vs. Sr-
More Effects of “Communicative Function of Problem Behavior”
- Proliferation of “antecedent interventions”
- Proactive instead of reactive
- Punishment-based & other restrictive or aversive interventions used minimally or not at all
- Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS)
Of the following, which were some of the effects of Carr and colleagues’ “communicative functions of behavior”?
(check all that apply)
- Development of Functional Assessments
- Development of Functional communication training
- A proliferation of “Antecedent interventions”
The Functional Analysis Movement
*Brian Iwata & his “discovery” of functional analysis & of developing function-based trt protocols for severe prob Bx
Superiority of the Function-Based Treatment Model
- Interventions designed based on the function of Bx are effective
- 1000s of ABA research studies have demonstrated unprecedented success of function-based trt in 1000s off cases!
- Aversive & restrictive interventions are seldom used
*Limitations of the Function-Based Treatment Model
- Most research studies have been done with persons with severe autism or severe to profound developmental disabilities
- Practitioners sometimes target incorrect replacement Bx
Reinforcement
*An Environmental change that follows a response closely in time, is contingent on that response & increases the probability of similar responses under similar circumstances
Building Repertoires
- Bxs that contact reinforcement are strengthened
- Expand our behavioral repertoires through operant selection
- Selection of Bx by the Env
Some Types of Reinforcement
- Positive reinforcement
- Social
- Automatic
- Negative reinforcement
- Social
- Automatic
Socially Mediated Positive Reinforcement
- Consequence (reinforcement) for the response is mediated by another person
- Specifically, an appetitive stimulus is added to the Env following the Response
Automatic Positive Reinforcement
- Consequence (reinforcement) for the response is directly produced by the response
- Specifically, an appetitive stimulus/ sensation is added
Socially Mediated Negative Reinforcement
- Consequence (Rx) for the response is mediated by another person
- Specifically, an aversive stimulus is Removed from the Env following the response
Automatic Negative Reinforcement
- Consequence (Rx) for the response is directly produced by the response
- Specifically, an aversive stimulus/ sensation is removed
4 General Categories of Functions of Behavior
- Behavior maybe maintained by:
1. Social positive Rx
2. Automatic positive Rx
3. Social negative Rx
4. Automatic negative Rc
Function in Everyday Language
*What something does & the aim of the doing
*This has led to practitioners using teleological explanations
E.g. He is doing X to get Y
Function and Functional Relation in Science
- In Bx analysis, func ion is used in its mathematical sense (Skinner 1953)
- A Functional relation is simply a mathematical relation btw 2 or more variables
Functional Relation in Behavior Analysis
- Functional relations exist btw stimulus classes & response classes
- Stimulus class (antecedents &/ or consequences) = Independent variable
- Response class = dependent variable