History & Philosophy of ABA

Empiricism

The theory that knowledge derives from sensory experience. 

e.g., sight, hearing, or touch

Law of Effect

Behaviors followed by pleasant consequences are likely to be repeated. Behaviors followed by unpleasant consequences are not likely to be repeated.

Classical Conditioning

Learning process in which a neutral stimulus (NS) becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS) through repeated pairing with an unconditioned stimulus (US).

Stimulus

Any environmental event that elicits a behavioral response.

Unconditioned stimulus (US)

A stimulus that elicits a reflexive response.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

A previously neutral stimulus that takes on the eliciting properties of an unconditioned stimulus through repeated pairings with that unconditioned stimulus.

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

A stimulus that does not elicit the response of interest.

Reflex/Unconditioned Response (UR)

An automatic response to an unconditioned stimulus that occurs in all members of a species.

Generalization

Conditioned responding that happens with novel neutral stimuli that was never paired with other conditioned or unconditioned stimuli.

Operant

The Basic Unit of Behavior

Operant Conditioning

Responding is conditioned through manipulation of consequences according to the law of effect

Three-Term Contingency

Behavior is explained by analyzing it according to the antecedent, stimuli, and the consequences that follow;

i.e., antecedent - behavior - consequence.

Reinforcer

Stimulus change that follows a behavioral response and increases the likelihood that response will occur again (strengthens the behavior).

Punisher

Stimulus change that follows a behavioral response and decreases the likelihood of the response recurring (weakens the behavior).

Radical Behaviorism

School of behaviorism that views behavior as a natural event resulting exclusively from interactions with the environment.

ABC Recording

A method of descriptive data collection in which the antecedents and consequences surrounding a behavior of interest are recorded.

Motivating Operation (MO)

An event or condition that alters the value of consequences and the probability of behaviors that have been previously associated with such consequences; may be categorized as establishing or abolishing.

Single Subject Design

Research method in which treatment effectiveness is shown by demonstrating change from one condition to the next in an individual or small group.

Token Economy

A system of behavior change in which desired behaviors are reinforced with tokens, which can be accumulated and exchanged for other reinforcers.

Positive Behavior Support

An approach to supporting people who have challenging behavior that utilizes applied behavior analysis aligned with the values of normalization and person-centered care.

Functional Analysis

Direct form of functional behavior assessment in which antecedents and consequences are systematically tested to determine the controlling variables of a specific target behavior.

Functional Communication Training

A differential reinforcement technique that teaches the person to engage in communicative responses as a replacement for problem behavior.

Delay/Denial Tolerance

A component of functional communication training that teaches the learner to first accept delays in receiving requested items/activities, then to accept denials, without displaying problem behavior.