Behavior Reduction

Interfering Behaviors

Are socially significant. This means that the behaviors are important to a person’s quality of life, social interactions, or relationships. We do not select behaviors for reduction unless they are impactful in this way. We never select behaviors for reduction because we think the behaviors should change.  

Precursor Behaviors

Behaviors that occur before interfering behaviors. These are warning signs that a targeted interfering behavior is coming and provide you with an opportunity to offer support before a big challenge arises.

Targeted Interfering Behaviors

Behaviors that impact a client’s quality of life. These behaviors are socially and culturally significant to the client and may impact safety and inclusion in their community.

Behavior Functions (Purpose)

Escape - Behaviors maintained by removal or avoidance of an aversive stimulus or task

Attention - Behaviors maintained by desire for social interaction from others

Tangible - Behaviors maintained by gaining access to a desired object or activity

Automatic/sensory - Behaviors maintained by internal, self-stimulating consequences. Does not depend on the actions of others

Antecedent Strategies

Strategies used to adjust the environment before a behavior occurs to reduce the likelihood that an interfering behavior will occur.

Consequence Strategies

Strategies that come after an interfering behavior that aim to reduce the likelihood of the behavior happening again in the future. 

Common Antecedent Strategies

Environmental Enrichment - Adding reinforcers to the environment prior to the occurrence of interfering behavior

Noncontingent Reinforcement (NCR) - Reinforcement is delivered on a fixed schedule regardless of the person’s behavior

High Probability Sequence (High-P) - Provide several high-probability demands (things the client is likely to do) before providing a low-probability demand (something the client is less likely to do)

Premack Principle (First-Then) - The client is asked to do a less preferred activity to gain access to a more preferred activity

Demand Fading - This is a general term for reducing the effort required for task completion before accessing reinforcement

Visual Supports - Visual cues to help individuals understand expectations, routines, and social situations

Common Consequence Strategies

Redirection - Shifting the client’s attention away from an interfering behavior and helping them engage in something more appropriate

Differential Reinforcement - Reinforcing desired behaviors while withholding reinforcement from undesired behaviors. This both decreases the undesired behavior and increases replacement behaviors

Extinction - A behavior that used to be reinforced no longer gets reinforcement. Without reinforcement, the behavior decreases over time

Punishment - A change in the environment after a behavior that makes the behavior less likely to happen again

Side - Effects of Extinction

Extinction Burst - Sudden, typically short-lived increase in the interfering behavior

Emotional Responses - Crying, swearing, aggression or the return of interfering behaviors you saw in the past

Spontaneous Recourses - Sudden return of the interfering behavior, even though you haven’t seen the behavior in awhile

Side Effects of Punishment

Emotional or Aggressive Reactions - Punishment that restricts freedom of movement can lead to crying, screaming, hitting, property destruction and more. These should be monitored closely and carefully considered

Escape or Avoidance - The person may stop participating, lie or cheat to avoid punishment

Behavioral Contrast - The person's behavior changes in one setting because the rules or consequences changed in another setting

Overused by Instructors - Punishment can lead to an immediate change in behaviors toward the instructor. This is negative reinforcement for the instructor