1. AVERSIVE CONTROL The Dark Side of Behaviorism Tristram Jones, Ph.D. Kaplan University PS517 Unit V

2. There are two basic ways to apply AVERSIVE CONTROL: WITHDRAW A REINFORCER (or) WITHDRAW A REINFORCER (or) DELIVER A PUNISHMENT! DELIVER A PUNISHMENT! “Most people report ‘not liking’ aversive control” (Your TEXT, p 463) “Most people report ‘not liking’ aversive control” (Your TEXT, p 463)

3. Aversive Control uses the same 4 contingencies as Reinforcement! When you think about it, ONLY POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT IS NOT A FORM OF AVERSIVE CONTROL! (Mostly! ) So what are the other varieties? So what are the other varieties?

4. NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT: Negative Reinforcement strengthens a behavior because a behavior is increased (or maintained) in order to escape or avoid a stimulus. It’s It’sAversive FASTER! In this depiction a beloved Disney character is encouraged to move more quickly!

5. PUNISHMENT always REDUCES a behavior—or is at least meant to! It is punishment by contingent stimulation if it PRESENTS a stimulus! It is punishment by contingent stimulation if it PRESENTS a stimulus! In this depiction, the young lady is being discouraged from gossip through the presentation of a stimulus! Think positive!! In this depiction, the young lady is being discouraged from gossip through the presentation of a stimulus! Think positive!! It’s It’s Aversive!

6. It is PUNISHMENT by contingent withdrawal if it withdraws a stimulus! NEGATIVE PUNISHMENT occurs when something desired is taken away as a consequence of a certain NEGATIVE PUNISHMENT occurs when something desired is taken away as a consequence of a certain BEHAVIOR! BEHAVIOR! YOU CAN HAVE THESE BACK WHEN YOU STOP GETTING DRUNK AND RUNNING OVER PEDESTRIANS! It’s Aversive!

7. So there are four types of contingencies…. INCREASE A BEHAVIOR INCREASE A BEHAVIOR PRESENT STIMULUS: Positive Reinforcement * PRESENT STIMULUS: Positive Reinforcement * WITHDRAW STIMULUS: Negative Reinforcement WITHDRAW STIMULUS: Negative Reinforcement DECREASE A BEHAVIOR DECREASE A BEHAVIOR PRESENT STIMULUS: Positive Punishment WITHDRAW STIMULUS: Negative Punishment IF IT DECREASES BEHAVIOR IT’S PUNISHMENT! IF IT INCREASES BEHAVIOR IT’S REINFORCEMENT! *Only non-aversive method of control

8. BEHAVIOR ANALYSTS USE AVERSIVE CONTROL STRATEGIES ONLY WHEN THEY CAN’T GET POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT TO WORK!

9. THREE TACTICS OF ADVERSIVE CONTROL TACTIC ONE: Decrease undesirable behavior through “punishment by contingent TACTIC ONE: Decrease undesirable behavior through “punishment by contingent STIMULATION” STIMULATION” (Positive Punishment) (Positive Punishment)

10. THREE TACTICS OF ADVERSIVE CONTROL TACTIC TWO: Decrease undesirable behavior through punishment by “contingent TACTIC TWO: Decrease undesirable behavior through punishment by “contingent WITHDRAWAL” WITHDRAWAL” (Negative Punishment) (Negative Punishment)

11. THREE TACTICS OF ADVERSIVE CONTROL TACTIC THREE: INCREASE a desirable behavior TACTIC THREE: INCREASE a desirable behavior through through NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT ALWAYS USED AS A LAST RESORT. AS RODDY IS DEMONSTRATING IN THE ABOVE SCENE FROM “CLASS OF ’84” YES???

12. This brings us to FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS! This brings us to FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS! THIS IS BASIC ADLERIAN or GLASSERIAN theory! ALL BEHAVIOR HAS A MOTIVE AND A PAYOFF even if people don’t think about it! THIS IS BASIC ADLERIAN or GLASSERIAN theory! ALL BEHAVIOR HAS A MOTIVE AND A PAYOFF even if people don’t think about it! FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS = UNDERSTANDING THE PAYOFFS!

13. People who choose poorly usually wind up with undesired consequences! EACH OF THESE PEOPLE LOST SOME POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

14. Let’s talk about CUTTING—it’s not just for BORDERLINES any more! Iwata (1994) found that 26% of cutters were motivated by misused positive social attention. Also, 38% of the cases resulted from learned behavior (caregivers giving into these behaviors). Sensory stimulation accounted for the remaining 26%. THIS IS a kind of meta- functional analysis of self cutting! So what do we do Iwata (1994) found that 26% of cutters were motivated by misused positive social attention. Also, 38% of the cases resulted from learned behavior (caregivers giving into these behaviors). Sensory stimulation accounted for the remaining 26%. THIS IS a kind of meta- functional analysis of self cutting! So what do we do with these insights? with these insights?

15. What’s to be done? First instance, reinforcement is being misused by parents or authorities when attention is sought— withhold attention for self injury and increase it for alternatives! First instance, reinforcement is being misused by parents or authorities when attention is sought— withhold attention for self injury and increase it for alternatives! Second instance, caregiver’s behavior is somehow aversive to the subject. Too demanding? Too nasty? Too intimidating? Cutting removes them from the situation. Fix this by teaching caregiver new methods, and subject ways to limit the aversive aspect of the caregiver’s methods (Say stop!) Second instance, caregiver’s behavior is somehow aversive to the subject. Too demanding? Too nasty? Too intimidating? Cutting removes them from the situation. Fix this by teaching caregiver new methods, and subject ways to limit the aversive aspect of the caregiver’s methods (Say stop!) Third instance—difficult! Eliminate the sensory stimuli and/or teach simple skills for creating healthier stimuli! Third instance—difficult! Eliminate the sensory stimuli and/or teach simple skills for creating healthier stimuli!

16. Say Aloha to Brian Iwata! Using positive reinforcement, extinction, and differential reinforcement, Iwata claims his team at U of Florida scored an 85% success rate with cutters of every type. What do you think? Using positive reinforcement, extinction, and differential reinforcement, Iwata claims his team at U of Florida scored an 85% success rate with cutters of every type. What do you think?

17. But weren’t we discussing FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS? Oh yeah. Functional analysis is the application of the laws of operant conditioning to establish the relationships between stimuli and responses. To establish the function of a behavior, one typically examines the "three-term contingency.” Oh yeah. Functional analysis is the application of the laws of operant conditioning to establish the relationships between stimuli and responses. To establish the function of a behavior, one typically examines the "three-term contingency.”operant conditioningstimuli and responsesoperant conditioningstimuli and responses Identify the antecedent or trigger of the behavior, A, the behavior itself, B, (as it has been operationalized), and identifying the consequences of the behavior, C. which continue to maintain it. Identify the antecedent or trigger of the behavior, A, the behavior itself, B, (as it has been operationalized), and identifying the consequences of the behavior, C. which continue to maintain it.operationalized Functional analysis in BEHAVIORISM employs principles derived from BEHAVIORISM, right??? Functional analysis in BEHAVIORISM employs principles derived from BEHAVIORISM, right???

18. “Now, you listen to me….!” PLEASE don’t tie yourself to the BEHAVIORAL model at this stage, unless you happen to have a shrine to Burrhus Frederic in your den! Think deeper! PLEASE don’t tie yourself to the BEHAVIORAL model at this stage, unless you happen to have a shrine to Burrhus Frederic in your den! Think deeper!

19. There are other keys to behavior!

20. And while we’re on the subject… Is BEHAVIORISM the key to a paradise on earth as men like Iwata and Skinner have long argued? Do you with agree with Richelle that “Movements for freedom…are in essence escape behaviors!” Is BEHAVIORISM the key to a paradise on earth as men like Iwata and Skinner have long argued? Do you with agree with Richelle that “Movements for freedom…are in essence escape behaviors!” Who the heck is this RICHELLE dude, Ben?