CG D: Behavior Reduction

Behavior Reduction

Using principles of ABA to reduce the occurrence of challenging behaviors

Behavior Reduction Plan (BSP)

A formal written guide to help, support, and promote healthy and positive behaviors of an individual who may demonstrate a challenging behavior.

extinction burst

A temporary increase in the frequency and intensity of the behavior no longer receiving reinforcement during Extinction.

Extinction

The process of no longer reinforcing a previously reinforced behavior, resulting in a decrease or elimination of that behavior over time.

Spontaneous recovery

The sudden reappearance of the behavior placed on extinction after a period of time has passed.

Tip: "Suprise comeback"

Differential Reinforcement

Providing reinforcement for a desirable behavior while no longer providing reinforcement for the challenging behavior.

Ex: I have a client that will cry to gain access to a toy, we taught the client to point to the toy she wanted and reinforced this behavior. No longer providing reinforcement to the crying behavior.

Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behaviors (DRA)

A functionally equivalent replacement behavior is taught and reinforced, and the challenging behavior is no longer reinforced.

Ex: A client engages in screaming behavior for access to a turn on his video game.

He was taught to ask using the mand "my turn" to access the video game.

The client receives reinforcement for asking and the screaming behavior decreases

Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible behavior

Reinforcing a specific behavior that cannot be done at the same time as the target challenging behavior.

Ex: Providing reinforcement for singing instead of screaming

Differential Reinforcement of Other Behaviors

Reinforcing the engagement in any other behavior or absence of the target challenging behavior within an interval.

Tip: The O in DRO can signify a clock to help you remember DRO always comes with an interval of time!

Ex: Reinforcing engaging in sitting down, engaging in tasks, engaging in conversation ect. as long as the client is not getting up out of their seat for the entire class period (45 minutes).

Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates of Behavior

Reinforcing at the end of a session if the challenging behavior occurred during the entire session at or below a predetermined amount.

Ex: If the behavior occurred less than 5 times during a session the client will access reinforcement.

Tip: "Do Less" anything less than predetermined amount

Differential Reinforcement of High Rates of Behavior

Reinforcing at the end of a session if the challenging behavior occurred during the entire session at or above a predetermined amount.

Tip: "Do More" anything more than the predetermined amount

Differential Reinforcement of Diminishing Rates of Behavior

Reinforcing if the challenging behavior occurred at or below a predetermined amount. The next session, the criteria will be decreased. This pattern continues until the final desired criteria is achieved.

Tip: "Keep Doing Less" continuously decreasing the criteria for reinforcement

Ex: A client engages in shouting out answers in class on an average of 5 times per class period. Today if the client shouts out answers in class less than 4 times they would get reinforcement. This number would lower until the behavior was completely gone.

Establishing Operations

Increases the current effectiveness of reinforcement.

Increases motivation.

Increases the frequency of behavior.

Tip: Think "Deprivation" - when we are deprived of something, we are likely to want it more

Ex: I haven't eaten all day- I am more likely to engage in getting fast food

Abolishing Operations

Decreases the current effectiveness of reinforcement.

Decreases motivation.

Decreases the frequency of behavior.

Tip: Think "Satiation" - when we are satiated on something, we've had enough or too much of it

Ex: We tell our clients 'good job' every day eventually that reinforcer will no longer be as effective because they are satiated on that reinforcement.

Motivating Operations

Motivating operations (MOs) are events that either encourage or prevent a certain behavior. An MO is essentially the desire or the motivation that drives a specific behavior.

Discriminative Stimulus (SD)

An antecedent stimulus that signals the availability of reinforcement for specific responses.​

Tip: Think 'signal', an SD signals that reinforcement is available

Ex: Your gas light signals to you that reinforcement is available in the form of driving your car IF you engage in filling your tank. The gas light is the SD.

Antecedent Modifications

Changing something about the current antecedents that are commonly occurring before your client demonstrates problem behavior.

Ex: I have a client that is sensitive to loud noises and will run and hide. If we can anticipate a loud noise coming, we can modify the antecedents and offer a choice of covering his ears or wearing noise canceling headphones.

Antecedent Modification Examples

Choice Making

Visual Schedules

Transition/Visual Timers

Noncontingent Reinforcement

Behavior Crisis Plan

Behavioral crisis planning involves proactively preparing a plan and resources for the possibility of future behavioral crises. Developing a behavioral crisis plan can allow caregivers and staff to prevent and respond to behavioral crises in the most appropriate and effective way possible.​