Introduction to Behavior Analysis The Reinforcer CH 1

Introduction to Behavior Analysis & The Reinforcer CH 1

Questions • Why should we do behavior analysis? • How should be do behavior analysis? • How should we evaluate behavior analysis?

Why do behavior analysis? • Practical side of behavior analysis – Improve life in the universe – “Quality of Life” • Theoretical side – Scientific understanding of people, the world, the universe is of value, just like art and music – Scientific knowledge for knowledge’s sake

Why do behavior analysis? • Two major goals – Understand the world • Functional relationships – Save the world

=Similarity= ═ Goal of humanity ═ Well being of life in the universe ═ Goal of behavior analysis ═ Well being of life in the universe ═ (Goal of any profession) ═ Well being of life in the universe

How can we build a better world? • Design systems that make people – Maximize human potential for growth – Happy – Healthy – Productive

Behavior Analysts • Behavior-change professionals • Deal with problems that might affect – An individual – Groups – Communities – Ecosystems – Future generations

Technology of Change • Behavior analysts have developed and tested a technology of behavior change

Brief Quiz (thought question) • Where would you like to see behavior analysts make a difference? List several situations. • When answering this question, think about your parents, boss, teachers, friends, yourself, your environment, etc.

What variables play a part in what we are doing? 1. Evolutionary past – genes 2. History of interaction with environment – contingencies 3. Current conditions – SD’s

Behavior Analysts • Concerned primarily with contingencies and how they affect behavior • Knowledge of contingencies help us predict what will happen in the presence of discriminative stimuli and conditional stimuli

Chapter 1 The Reinforcer

Family Life • An example from Journal of Abnormal & Social Psychology

Concept: Reinforcer Before: Behavior: After: Rod has no attention from Dawn Rod cries Rod has attention from Dawn Before: Behavior: After: Rod is alone Rod whimpers Rod is not alone Before: Behavior: After: Sid has no hug Sid whines Sid has hug

Concept: Reinforcer Before: Behavior: After: Cat has no treat Cat sits Cat has treat

What is a positive reinforcer? • A stimulus that increases the frequency of a response it follows

Stimulus: used inclusively • • Stimuli – sunset, taste of a smoothie, smile Event – race or concert Activities – playing guitar, shooting hoops Conditions – hot or cold, tired

How immediate is immediate? • 60 second rule • Never push the 60 sec limit

What is a reinforcer? • Silver star on forehead for each answer? • Sticker for each instance of raising hand? • Praise after instances of sharing materials? • How do you know a stimulus is a reinforcer?

Examples of reinforcers? • Pin a token to the back of your shirt? • Handing a visually impaired person a magnifying glass? • Attention from a group? • Watching someone tantrum?

Can problems be maintained by positive reinforcement? • Unfortunately, this is often the case…. . • Reinforcement is effective regardless of whether it is explicitly arranged – E. g. , watching paper towels fly…. . • Sometimes you reinforce one behavior even when you think you are reinforcing something else (Drennan’s belt requests)

Dead-man test • If a dead man can do it, it ain’t behavior. • And, if a dead man can’t do it, then it is behavior. • How about thinking?

Behavior • Anything a dead man can’t do • What about imagining? • Behavior is anything an animal (including the human animal) does. • A muscle, glandular, or electrical activity.

Behavior = Response

Behavior Analysis • The study of the principles of behavior

Behavior Analysts • • Experimental Behavior Analyst Theoretical Behavior Analyst Applied Behavior Analyst Behavior analysts often work as performance managers……behavior manager……. behavior modifier. • Clinical Behavior Analyst

REPERTOIRE

What is the difference between a repertoire and a response? • You are what you do… you are your repertoire…. • A repertoire is a set of skills, what a person or animal can do. • Can you pronounce it correctly?

Behavioral Interventions • The use of a behavioral procedure • We “intervene, ” we do not “treat” • Before intervening, there is a baseline phase during which the behavior of interest is measured in the absence of the intervention.

Assess reinforcers • Behavior that is reinforced is strengthened • Praise is a potential reinforcer – Does a behavior that is followed by praise occur more frequently in the future?

Reinforcer assessment: • Before spending much time trying to reinforce behavior, make sure you have a true reinforcer.

Reinforcer Assessment Procedures • Ask • Observe • Direct assessment: – E. g. , Forced choice

Harmful reinforcers? • How can this be possible?

Behavioral Event Before: Behavior: After: Your distant relative had no reinforcing taste of food. Your distant ancestor found ate food Your distant ancestor had the reinforcing taste of food Biological Results: Distant ancestor nourished & more likely to survive and was more likely to reproduce and continue the lineage that produced YOU!

Be aware • “If it feels too good, be careful. • It’ll likely sneak up from behind and bite you on your rear end…”

Preparation • Interpret and predict complex human behavior • To be successful, must develop a repertoire that includes correct use of basic terms and an understanding of the basic principles