Antecedents - chapter 5

Antecedents Chapter Overview

Creators: Rosiana L. Azman, Ph.D. (University of Hawai‘i Maui College), Kelly B.T. Chang, Ph.D. (George Fox University)

Overview of Content

• Identifying Antecedents: Recognizing triggers for behavior.

• Modifying Old Antecedents: Techniques to reshape existing triggers.

• Arranging New Antecedents: Strategies for implementing new desirable triggers.

Reference: Watson & Tharp Self-Directed Behavior 10e

Identifying Antecedents

• Challenges in Identification:

  • Accurate recording of behaviors.

  • Timely identification of antecedents.

  • Recognizing self-statements as antecedents.

• Discovering Self-Statements:

  • Self-instructions: Techniques for self-guidance.

  • Beliefs: Rational vs. irrational beliefs impacting behavior.

  • Expectations: Their role in behavior.

• Example of Irrational Beliefs:

  • Common Thoughts: "I must...", "Others must...", "Conditions must..."Source: Watson & Tharp Self-Directed Behavior 10e

Modifying Old Antecedents

• Strategies:

  • Avoiding Antecedents: Reduce exposure to negative triggers.

  • Narrowing Control: Limit number of triggers.

  • Re-perceiving: Differentiate between emotional and rational thoughts.

Changing Chains of Events

• Approaches:

  • Building Pauses: Slow down reactions to evaluate situations.

  • Pausing to Make a Record: Document thoughts during pivotal moments.

  • Unlinking Events: Disengage negative thought patterns from responses.

• Example of Chain of Events:

  1. Disappointing interactions

  2. Personal worthlessness thoughts

  3. Feelings of depressionSource: Watson & Tharp Self-Directed Behavior 10e

Arranging New Antecedents

• Eliminating Negative Self-Instructions: Replace self-defeating thoughts.

• Initiating Positive Self-Instructions: Insert guidance into behavior sequences.

• Thought Substitutions: Move from negative to positive thoughts.

• Building New Stimulus Control:

  • Environmental Adjustments: Impact of surroundings on behavior.

  • Stimulus Generalization: Applying learned behaviors to new contexts.

  • Precommitment: Planning for supportive antecedents.

  • Programming Social Environment: Use conditional statements (If... Then) for positive behavior.

Self-Statements and Self-Instructions:

• Self-Statements: These are verbal expressions that individuals make internally or externally that can serve as triggers for their behavior. They can be rational or irrational and significantly impact emotional responses and actions.

• Self-Instructions: Techniques that individuals use to guide themselves through specific situations. They involve positive affirmations or reminders that encourage constructive behavior and counter negative thought patterns. Both self-statements and self-instructions play a critical role in shaping behavior and can be modified to promote healthier responses.

Beliefs: These are convictions or acceptance that certain things are true or exist. In behavior psychology, beliefs are often categorized as rational or irrational and can significantly influence an individual’s emotional responses and actions. Rational beliefs are constructive and promote positive behavior, while irrational beliefs can lead to negative thoughts and emotional distress.

Antecedents: These are events or stimuli that trigger a specific behavior. Recognizing antecedents involves identifying the factors that lead to particular actions or reactions. Understanding antecedents can help in modifying behaviors by restructuring these triggers to promote healthier responses.

Low Self-Esteem: This refers to a negative perception of oneself where individuals feel inadequate, unworthy, or less valuable compared to others. It can lead to a lack of confidence and a persistent sense of failure.

Example: An individual with low self-esteem might avoid social situations due to fear of judgment, believing that others do not want to spend time with them or that they will embarrass themselves. This belief creates a cycle of withdrawal and further reinforces their negative self-view.

Avoidance: Avoidance refers to the behavior of steering clear of situations, tasks, or stimuli that induce anxiety, discomfort, or negative emotions. It is often a learned response that can provide temporary relief but ultimately reinforces negative behaviors and patterns.

Antecedent: An antecedent is an event or stimulus that triggers a specific behavior. It sets the stage for the behavior that follows, influencing how an individual reacts to a situation.

Example: A student who feels anxious about speaking in class may engage in avoidance by skipping classes where participation is expected. In this case, the upcoming class (antecedent) triggers the avoidance behavior (skipping class) to escape feelings of anxiety.

Avoiding Antecedents: Avoiding antecedents involves steering clear of events or stimuli that trigger undesirable behaviors or emotional responses. This strategy aims to prevent negative reactions by eliminating exposure to certain triggers.

Example: An individual with a fear of public speaking may avoid scenarios where they have to present, such as skipping school or work meetings where they would be required to talk in front of others. By doing so, they prevent the feelings of anxiety associated with these situations.

Hot and Cold Concepts: In psychology, 'hot' and 'cold' typically refer to two types of decision-making processes.

• Hot Decision Making: This occurs when an individual is emotionally charged or in a heightened state (e.g., angry, excited) which may lead to impulsive or immediate choices.

  • Example: A person might buy an expensive item on impulse while feeling excited during a sale.

• Cold Decision Making: This is characterized by rational, deliberate thought processes when emotions are not influencing the decision.

  • Example: Choosing a financial investment based on careful analysis and research rather than immediate emotional reactions.

Chain of Events: A chain of events refers to a sequence of occurrences that are linked together, where one event leads to another, influencing subsequent behaviors or outcomes. Understanding these chains can be crucial in identifying triggers and modifying behavioral responses.

Example: Consider an individual who experiences a disappointing interaction at work. This may lead to thoughts of personal worthlessness, which further results in feelings of depression. Here, the disappointing interaction (first event) triggers negative thoughts (second event), culminating in emotional distress (third event). Identifying this chain can help in developing strategies to interrupt the negative cycle.

Negative Self-Statements: These are harmful internal dialogues that reflect pessimism and self-doubt. They often include irrational beliefs about one's worth, abilities, or the world, and can lead to negative emotions and behaviors. Common examples include thoughts like "I always mess things up" or "I'm not good enough."

Example: An individual preparing for a job interview may think, "I'm going to fail because I'm not qualified." This negative self-statement can increase anxiety and decrease performance by undermining confidence.

Stimulus Generalization: This refers to the tendency for the conditioned response to be elicited by stimuli that are similar, but not identical, to the original conditioned stimulus. In other words, once a behavior has been conditioned, it can be triggered by other similar stimuli without additional conditioning.

Example: If a dog has been trained to salivate to the sound of a bell (the conditioned stimulus), it may also salivate in response to a doorbell or any similar sounding bell, demonstrating stimulus generalization.

Precommitment: This is a strategy in behavioral psychology where individuals intentionally bind themselves to a decision or behavior in advance, thereby reducing the likelihood of succumbing to temptation or making impulsive choices later. It involves setting up conditions or committing to choices that align with long-term goals to resist short-term impulses.

Example: A person may choose to precommit to a healthier lifestyle by signing up for a gym membership for a year. By making this commitment, they create a financial obligation that motivates them to attend the gym regularly, thus supporting their health goals and reducing the chance of avoiding exercise.