This is a continuation of a discussion started here.
ABA now has this rap as being ONLY for those with autism. That’s a poor misrepresentation. One that has negative consequences for millions of children who could benefit from some amount of behavior therapy from someone competent in ABA. Applied Behavior Analysis in short is the study of human behavior. The best definition was written in 1968 by Baer, Wolf & Risely:
“Applied Behavior Analysis is the process of systematically applying interventions based upon the principles of learning theory to improve socially significant behaviors to a meaningful degree and to demonstrate that the interventions employed are responsible for the improvement in behavior”
I don’t see anywhere in there that indicates it’s for those with autism only.
So here’s a quick break down of ABA Therapy.
All humans exhibit a behavior (if you weren’t behaving, you’d be dead)
All behavior occurs for a reason (it serves a purpose, a function)
The behaviors you exhibit now are the result of your past experiences with punishment and reinforcement.
Punishment is ANYTHING that decreases the likelihood of a behavior occurring again in the future Reinforcement is ANYTHING that increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring again in the future
For example:
Kid acts out at the dinner table. Told to go to time out. Kid stops acting out at the dinner table. Punishment.
Different kid acts out at the dinner table. Told to go to time out. Kid starts acting out at dinner more often. Reinforcement.
All humans exhibit a behavior (if you weren’t behaving, you’d be dead)
All behavior occurs for a reason (it serves a purpose, a function)
The behaviors you exhibit now are the result of your past experiences with punishment and reinforcement.
Punishment is ANYTHING that decreases the likelihood of a behavior occurring again in the future Reinforcement is ANYTHING that increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring again in the future
For example:
Kid acts out at the dinner table. Told to go to time out. Kid stops acting out at the dinner table. Punishment.
Different kid acts out at the dinner table. Told to go to time out. Kid starts acting out at dinner more often. Reinforcement.
In ABA, there are only 2 types of functions : To Gain something or To Avoid/Escape something
Humans like to gain: attention, tangibles and stimulation.
Every behavior is to gain attention, gain a tangible, self-stimulation or to avoid/escape something (or some complex combination of multiple functions)
You hit the snooze button on your alarm to escape the annoying buzzer sound.
You hit the snooze button BEFORE it goes off to AVOID the annoying sound you know is coming.
You say, “Can you pass the salt please?” to gain the tangible: salt.
You bite your nails when you’re bored because it gives you sensory stimulation.
You snuggle up with your hubby on the couch to gain his attention.
This is human nature. There is nothing to argue about. Case closed.
Haha. Seriously, why do people argue against ABA? It’s just like saying the sun doesn’t rise in the east and rain isn’t wet.
The behavior modification part comes with what you do with the function. Once you know the function of the behavior – you can modify it to increase the behavior or decrease the behavior.
You modify it through “Punishment” and “Reinforcement”.
Humans like to gain: attention, tangibles and stimulation.
Every behavior is to gain attention, gain a tangible, self-stimulation or to avoid/escape something (or some complex combination of multiple functions)
You hit the snooze button on your alarm to escape the annoying buzzer sound.
You hit the snooze button BEFORE it goes off to AVOID the annoying sound you know is coming.
You say, “Can you pass the salt please?” to gain the tangible: salt.
You bite your nails when you’re bored because it gives you sensory stimulation.
You snuggle up with your hubby on the couch to gain his attention.
This is human nature. There is nothing to argue about. Case closed.
Haha. Seriously, why do people argue against ABA? It’s just like saying the sun doesn’t rise in the east and rain isn’t wet.
The behavior modification part comes with what you do with the function. Once you know the function of the behavior – you can modify it to increase the behavior or decrease the behavior.
You modify it through “Punishment” and “Reinforcement”.
I'm going to go over a couple of terms here that are used a little differently in ABA than they are in casual speech. Stay with me.
Positive means adding a stimulus.
Negative means taking away a stimulus.
Now I know I said punishment and reinforcement is based on how it affects the behavior, not necessarily the exact intervention/item your using. But here some common examples that are commonly used that affect most people in the way I’ve described.
Negative means taking away a stimulus.
Now I know I said punishment and reinforcement is based on how it affects the behavior, not necessarily the exact intervention/item your using. But here some common examples that are commonly used that affect most people in the way I’ve described.
Positive Reinforcement: Hugs, Stickers, a Paycheck
Negative Punishment: Time-out, A fine, the cold-shoulder/silent treatment
Negative Reinforcement: Crying baby (You rock him/her to stop the crying) Cold (you put on jackets to get rid of the feeling cold).
The exact intervention or modification can be of your choosing. You have so many to choose from. Just remember to think of the function of the behavior first otherwise you’re wasting time at best, or worse – reinforcing the behavior you’re trying to punish (get rid of).
This is why I have a problem talking with people about “punishment”. I always have to start with, “It depends on what your definition of ‘punishment’ is”. Because to me, it just means anything that decreases a behavior. From spanking to praise – it could be anything. I know you’re thinking Praise? How could praise possibly be a punishment?
Think of a high school teacher praising a boy in front of his peers for doing a great job reading out loud to the class the assigned reading. The kid is really shy and the lavished praise embarrassed. He never again volunteers to read aloud again. That was not reinforcement. That was punishment.
Whether you’re trying to quit smoking, or teach your kid to have better table manners (seriously, have you volunteered in your child’s school’s cafeteria lately??) or stop the tantruming – ABA can help you.
Just remember folks, as you try and modify your kids' behaviors -- they are also modifying yours!
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