Human behavior is something that an
Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Specialist or other professional may want to change because certain aspects are considered undesirable within normal
society. Changing undesirable behaviors through ABA is also used in several
situations that can include individual or group settings. Some examples of
where this may apply are within a single home environment, school
system, public agency, prison, or rehabilitation center. Therefore, my goal for this paper will be to review 3 individual case studies, by examining different components that are associated with of ABA. These are also as follows:
- Case 1 involves Bobby and I will discuss Target Behavior, Operant Conditioning, Positive Reinforcement, and Schedules of Reinforcement.
- Case 2 involves Jackie and I will discuss Behavioral Theory and Selected Modification Program.
- Case 3 involves Emma and I will discuss Principles of Operant Conditioning, Application of that Theory, and Extinction.
The reason that different areas of
applied behavior analysis will be addressed is also because behavior
modification processes and/or techniques are usually determined, based on each individual
case.
Case 1: Bobby
Bobby Kelly’s bedroom is always
unorganized and extremely messy. His father would like to create a process
which encourages Bobby, to clean his room on a regular basis. In the next two
sections, I will identify the target behavior and recommend a modification
program which may initiate his father’s desired behavior.
Identify the Target Behavior
According to (Cooper, Heron, Heward, 2007), “a good definition of a target behavior provides an accurate, complete,
and concise description of the behavior to be changed (and therefore
measured)” (p. 67). After reviewing the above case, the target behavior is that Bobby’s bedroom is always unorganized
and extremely messy. This behavior is causing his father emotional stress, so he
would like to modify or improve this situation as soon as possible. Therefore,
I will design a modification plan using operant conditioning. This process may
then offer the positive desired behavior (cleans room frequently) that his
father wants.
Definition of Operant Conditioning
According to (Cooper,
Heron, Heward, 2007), “operant conditioning refers to
the process and selective effects of consequences on behavior” (p. 33). This method works to increase desired behavior by
implementing stimulus changes which may initiate a positive and/or desired
response. One example is if Bobby started to clean his room because he just got
a new game and needed floor space.
Definition of Positive Reinforcement
Most of the time, applied behavioral
analysts will use continuous reinforcement during the first stages of behavior
modification. Positive reinforcement occurs when a desired response occurs
shortly after a specific stimulus is introduced. There can also be certain
issues involved when selecting appropriate and effective reinforcements. Two of
these might include the motivational level of each participant and ensuring age
appropriate reinforcers. One example of an inappropriate reinforcement would be
giving a baby rattle to a teenager like Bobby as reward.
Two Possible Schedules of Reinforcement
According to (Cooper,
Heron, Heward, 2007), “a schedule of reinforcement is a rule that describes a
contingency of reinforcement, those environmental arrangements that determine
conditions by which behaviors will produce reinforcement” (p. 305). Two
possible schedules of reinforcement along with the case implementation,
advantages, and disadvantages are as follows:
1.
Fixed Schedule - When using this
reinforcement technique, the time requirement will always remain constant
and/or the same. This schedule of reinforcement process could be implemented as
a way to acquire the desired behavior for the above case (cleans room
frequently). I would implement this process by telling Bobby that he will get
$5.00 for each night his room is cleaned by 7:00 pm. Two advantages of this process are that it can produce
faster rates of desired response and maximize the delivery rate of the selected
reinforcement. Two possible disadvantages are that if ratio requirements become
too large then the rate of response may decrease and this can also produce
postreinforcement pause.
2.
Variable Schedule - This requires a
varying and undisclosed number of responses before the participant will receive
a desired reinforcement. This process could also be implemented as a way to
acquire the desired behavior for the above case (cleans room
regularly).
I would implement this process by telling Bobby that if he cleaned his room on
a regular basis, then “on occasion he would get $20.00 to go to the mall. Two
advantages of this process are that it can produce a steady rate of response
and does not produce postreinforcement pause. One disadvantage is that it’s rarely implemented with any
type of planned or systematic approach.
Case 2: Jackie
Jackie acquired a fear
of dogs after being bit at 3 years of age. The injury also required several
stitches. It has been twenty years since this incident but Jackie still
remembers every detail of the event. The trauma associated with this incident
has caused severe psychological distress to the point that she cannot be around
or even see a dog. If this does occur, she suddenly experiences heart
palpitations and nausea. Since the initial incident she has spent her life
simply avoiding dogs but will soon marry a breeder. Jackie has come to seek
assistance for this fear before her marriage takes place in 6 months.
Selected
Behavioral Theory
ABA professionals
normally use certain principles when attempting to modify socially significant
behavior that is causing extreme distress within the client’s life. There are
also several theories which may be used in order to determine behavior and what
modification program may work best to alter these. One specific theory that
could explain why Jackie has carried this lifelong fear of dogs is due to
negative reinforcement. Negative reinforcement can be defined as
a termination or removal of a certain stimulus which may lead to a specific
response. This can occur if one wishes to change what he or she may personally
or socially view as undesirable behavior.
In this case, Jackie views dogs as the stimulus that will cause a painful
undesired response (biting injury).
Selected
Behavior Modification Program
According to (Cooper, Heron, Heward),
“applied behavioral analysts use continuous reinforcement during the initial
stages of learning and for strengthening behavior” (p. 323). One particular
modification process which I would use to help Jackie is called classical
conditioning.
The
principles of this theory are often used to treat people who suffer from fears
and/or phobias. I would perform this process by advising Jackie to meet a dog
while offering it a steak bone. I would also train the dog to lick Jackie after
the steak bone was received. I would then repeat this process at least 3 times
a week until the dog became familiar and/or friendly with Jackie. Over time,
the dog would teach Jackie that they are not all going to cause her a severe
bite injury.
Case 3: Emma
A 4 year old named Emma
refuses to clean her room even if offered a reward or receiving time out. When
it is time to clean up, Emma simply shows anger and throws a temper tantrum.
These outbursts include screaming, yelling and throwing toys. On several
occasions, her parents have picked her up during these outbursts and choose to
clean the room themselves.
Identified
Principles of Operant Conditioning
The underlying principles of operant
conditioning that may be causing Emma's behavior are that her parents pick up
her when she is throwing a tantrum and they clean the room themselves. This has
taught Emma that if she exhibits this behavior then she will be rewarded with
love and won’t have to clean her room because the parents will do it.
Application
of Operant Conditioning Theory
I could also apply the operant
conditioning theory to create a behavior modification program which may change
Emma's undesirable behavior. This would involve a process which replaces the
parent’s actions of picking her up and cleaning the room by themselves. One
example could be to tell her that it is okay and they will pick her up when the
room is clean. They could also praise her during every step of the cleaning
process while she completes this task on her own.
Extinction
According to (Cooper,
Heron, Heward), “a procedure occurs when reinforcement of a previously
reinforced behavior is discontinued; as a result, the frequency of that behavior
decreases in the future” (p. 457). In applied behavioral analysis, this is
known as extinction. Certain procedures for extinction can also be identified
in three distinct forms which are linked to behavior and they are maintained by
positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement and automatic reinforcement. The
concept of extinction could be applied in this case which involves Emma if the
parents refuse to pick her up or clean the room.
Conclusion
After reviewing different procedures which
can be used in applied behavioral analysis to address human behavior, it does
appear that some of these can be valuable modification techniques. Deciding
which procedure to use will also be based on each individual case. Undesirable
behaviors which were addressed in the 3 cases that I reviewed were refusal to
clean a room on a regular basis, fearing dogs and throwing temper tantrums when
asked to clean a room. The behavior modification procedures that I chose to
implement for these cases are operant conditioning, and classical conditioning.
These chosen procedures would also be used in an effort to improve individual
behaviors versus those within a group setting.
Reference:
Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E.,
Heward, W. L. (2007). Applied Behavior Analysis (2nd ed). New Jersey: The Lehigh Press, Inc.
