1. VERY Basic Principles of Behavior Autism Roundtable Charlotte Richardson Lakeside Middle School

2. Cooper, Heron, and Heward Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Positive Reinforcement Definition Contingent on a response Which increases the future probability of the response The future increase in the response is a critical feature in defining reinforcement

3. Positive Reinforcement Presenting an item or activity after a learner exhibits a behavior Example: Child raises his hand to answer a question (behavior) – Teacher calls on him (reinforce) Child raises his hands more often to get attention Child blows a raspberry (behavior) – Sister laughs (reinforce) Child blows more raspberries to get attention You go to work (behavior) – get paid (reinforce) Continue to go to work to get paid

4. Positive Reinforcment? What is it?? Examples??

5. Cooper, Heron, and Heward Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Negative Reinforcement Definition Stimulus removed (terminated, reduced, or postponed) Contingent on a response Which results in an increase in the future probability of that response

6. Negative Reinforcement Taking away an item or activity after a learner exhibits a behavior Example: Students answer math problem correctly (behavior) Teacher takes away homework for the night(reinforce) Children work harder (increase accuracy) in class to avoid/escape having to do homework Child taps his pencil everyday in math class (behavior) – Teacher sends him to office (reinforce) Child continues to tap pencil everyday (increase in behavior) to avoid / escape math class

7. Negative Reinforcment? What is it?? Examples??

8. - IMPORTANT POINT- Reinforcers are not defined by their physical properties, but by their functions. Something that has a reinforcing affect for one person, may not be the same for another person. Example: teacher gives Jolly Ranchers for in-class participation during discussion. Reinforcement ONLY OCCURS when it INCREASES behavior, and is NOT THE SAME for everyone. Joy – LOVES Jolly RanchersTalks 10 timesAre Jolly Ranchers reinforcing? Terrence –HATES Jolly Rancher Talks 0 timesAre Jolly Ranchers reinforcing? Troy – likes them but eats them at home Talks 1 timeAre Jolly Ranchers reinforcing?

9. Cooper, Heron, and Heward Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Questions About Reinforcement Does a person have to be aware that a response is being reinforced for it to increase? NO! The effect is automatic. Often in Education administration reinforces behavior when they are actually trying to punish behavior. REMEMBER – If behavior increases or remains at the same level it is being REINFORCED Are certain behaviors susceptible to reinforcement and others are not? NO! The only relevant property is the temporal relation between the response and the consequence.

10. Cooper, Heron, and Heward Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Positive vs. Negative Reinforcement How they are similar: Both produce an increase in responding How they are different: The type of stimulus change that follows the behavior Positive reinforcement produces an added item or activity to the environment Negative reinforcement terminates a stimulus that was present prior to responding

11. Punishment Punishment is: Extremely misunderstood Often misused A hot topic Educators often think they are “punishing” bad behavior, when in fact they are reinforcing bad behavior. How do you think you can tell if you are reinforcing bad behavior despite honest efforts?

12. Punishment As a principle of behavior, punishment is NOT about punishing the person Punishment has occurred when a response is followed immediately by a stimulus change that decreases the future frequency of similar responses Punishment is defined neither by the actions of the person delivering the consequences, nor by the nature of those consequences.

13. Punishment A decrease in the future frequency of the occurrence of the behavior must be observed before a consequence-based intervention qualifies as punishment. Cooper, Heron, and Heward Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved SituationBehaviorConsequence in particular situation

14. - IMPORTANT POINT- Punishers, like reinforcers, are not defined by their physical properties, but by their functions. Something that has a punishing affect for one person, may not be the same for another person.

15. Punishment? What is it? Examples?

16. ReinforcementPunishment Positive (+) THINK: ADDING increases behavior adds something to the environment decreases behavior adds something to the environment Negative (-) THINK: TAKE AWAY increases behavior takes something away from the environment decreases behavior takes something to the environment

17. PresentedTaken Away Increase Positive ReinforcementNegative Reinforcement Decrease Positive PunishmentNegative Punishment Stimulus Probability of Future Behavior

18. Very Basic Principles of Behavior Reinforcement Increases behavior Two Types Positive Negative Punishment Decreases behavior Two Types Positive Negative

19. What do you think? Chris taps his pencil in math class everyday during independent practice time. The teacher tells him to stop 3 times (3 strikes and your out), then sends him to the office. The behavior does not stop, and instead begins to occur during whole group instruction as well. Situation (antecedent) – Behavior – Consequence – What is happening here? What can be done to change Chris’ behavior?

20. What do you think? Sam hates coming to school and has said so numerous times to teachers, counselors, and administrators. He has been in 3 fights all where he was suspended for 9 days each time. Situation (antecedent) – Behavior – Consequence – What is happening here? What can be done to change Chris’ behavior?

21. What do you think? Mrs. Smith uses a point system for student participation, homework completion, indep Situation (antecedent) – Behavior – Consequence – What is happening here? What can be done to change Chris’ behavior?