Maintaining Behavior Change Chapter 10 Relapses in Behavior

Maintaining Behavior Change Chapter 10

Relapses in Behavior • Why they occur • When they occur • Reinforcement thinning Page 2

Schedules of Reinforcement • Continuous reinforcement (CRF) vs. partial (intermittent) reinforcement (PRF) • PRF schedules – ratio schedules reinforce based on the number of responses that occur • fixed-ratio schedules define a constant number of required responses • variable-ratio schedules vary the number of responses that must occur Page 3

Schedules of Reinforcement (continued) • PRF schedules – interval schedules reinforce the first response after a period of time has passed • fixed-interval schedules reinforce the first response after a fixed amount of time has passed since the last reinforcer was delivered • variable-interval schedules reinforce the first response after varying periods of time since the last reinforcer was delivered Page 4

Schedules of Reinforcement (continued) • Duration schedules require that a behavior occur for a period of time before being reinforced • Schedules can be combined to create more complex schedules of reinforcement Page 5

Effects of Ratio Schedules • Ratio schedules maintain high rates of responding – variable-ratio schedules maintain higher rates than fixed-ratio schedules – fixed-ratio schedules maintain a post-reinforcement pause • Generally, as response requirements increase, so do rates of responding • Too high a requirement causes “ratio strain” Page 6

Effects of Interval Schedules • Interval schedules maintain moderates of responding – fixed-interval schedules maintain rates that accelerate through each interval • fixed-interval schedules maintain a “scalloped” pattern of responding – variable interval schedules maintain consistent, moderates through each interval Page 7

PRF Effect • PRF seems to create greater resistance to extinction than CRF • Variable schedules are more resistant to extinction than fixed schedules of reinforcement Page 8

Delaying Reinforcement • Delays in reinforcement interfere with acquisition of behavior • After a behavior is established, the introduction of brief delays may serve to strengthen behavior – Such delays make behavior more resistant to extinction Page 9

Increasing Natural Reinforcement and Enhancing Generalization • Available reinforcers – Social reinforcers • Antecedents – Fade prompts • Widen stimulus control – General case training • Self-regulation Page 10

Posttreatment Programs • Booster programs offer refresher sessions • Marlatt's lapse prevention method teaches relapse prevention in three steps: – learn to identify high-risk situations – acquire coping skills – practice coping skills in high-risk settings Page 11

Tips on Maintaining Behavior Change • Focus interventions on behavior that will be • • • useful in the person's natural environment Associate new behaviors with antecedents common to the natural environment Monitor behavior carefully when introducing new treatments Thin to a variable schedule of reinforcement Assess potential natural reinforcers prior to completion of intervention Target behaviors should be applicable to everyday life Page 12