Chapter 5 Methods to Decrease Operant Behavior

1. Chapter 5Methods to Decrease Operant Behavior

2. What Is Extinction? • extinction is: • the procedure of eliminating the consequence of a behavior that had previously reinforced that behavior • weakening of a behavior that occurs when it is no longer reinforced • extinction does not erase the memory of the behavior

3. Identifying and Controlling Reinforcement for Extinction • first identify the consequence maintaining the behavior • eliminate all sources of reinforcement • combine with procedures that reinforce incompatible responses

4. The Process and Characteristics of Extinction • extinction may at first increase the behavior (extinction burst) • extinction may increase aggressive and other emotional behaviors • bursts and emotional responses may be reduced by reinforcing alternative responses

5. The Process and Characteristics of Extinction (continued) • extinction results in gradual or irregular decreases in responding • behavior can reappear (spontaneous recovery) • spontaneous recovery is less likely to occur when an alternative response is reinforced

6. What Factors Affect Extinction Effectiveness? behaviors are more resistant to extinction when: • reinforcers maintaining a behavior were not clearly defined • not all reinforcers were withheld • alternative responses were not reinforced • behavior was reinforced for a long time • the value of reinforcers was high

7. What Factors Affect Extinction Effectiveness? (continued) • the behavior was reinforced intermittently • instructions regarding the new contingencies were not provided

8. What Is Punishment? • punishment is a procedure in which consequences decrease the strength of a behavior • the consequence that decreases behavior is referred to as a punisher • consequences are punishers only when they weaken a behavior • consequences are not punishers simply because they appear to be unpleasant

9. Positive and Negative Punishment • some distinguish between positive and negative punishers • positive refers to a consequence that is given • negative refers to a consequence that is taken away • negative reinforcement is not the same as punishment

10. Positive and Negative Punishment

11. Types of Punishment: Physically Aversive Consequences • physically aversive consequences are those that cause discomfort or pain • examples include: • shock • bitter tastes • foul or pungent odors • ethical concerns arise • aggression and other side effects have been reported

12. Types of Punishment: Reprimands • reprimands are verbal statements that sharply criticize a behavior • reprimands are conditioned punishers • reprimands are easy to apply and can be more effective than other consequences • reprimands may serve as reinforcers • reprimands may only suppress behavior for a brief period

13. Types of Punishment: Aversive Activities • requiring aversive activities when the behavior occurs can serve to reduce behavior • the Premack principle can be used to identify appropriate activities • overcorrection requires as a consequence activities that correct or are the opposite of the undesirable behavior

14. Types of Punishment: Aversive Activities (continued) • restitution requires behaviors that lead to a correction of the impact the inappropriate behavior had on the environment • positive practice requires that an appropriate related activity or appropriate alternative repeatedly be performed

15. Types of Punishment: Time-Out • time-out from positive reinforcement removes the individual from a reinforcing environment as a consequence for inappropriate behavior • behavior will be suppressed only when the new environment is less reinforcing • isolation time-out moves the individual to a new environment

16. Types of Punishment: Time-Out (continued) • exclusion time-out disallows the individual from participating in activities • nonexclusion time-out allows continued participation but does not allow the individual to earn reinforcers • time-out periods should be brief

17. Types of Punishment: Response Cost • response cost punishes behavior by taking away a valued item or privilege • valued items could include: • money • TV time • articles of clothing • the procedure is relatively easy to apply, especially when part of token reinforcement programs

18. Advantages of Punishment • results are rapid • behavior that may be resistant to other forms of treatment may respond to punishment • there may be positive side-effects, such as generalization • may lead to complete suppression of the unwanted behavior

19. Disadvantages of Punishment • may cause undesirable emotional responses • may cause escape and avoidance responses • may lead to aggressive responses • the individual may learn to use punishment to control others

20. When to Consider Using Punishment • use only after other less restrictive procedures have failed • more easily justified when the behavior: • can cause injury • is highly embarrassing • is bizarre • may be necessary when behavior is maintained by strong reinforcers that cannot be controlled by the therapist

21. When to Consider Using Punishment (continued) • may be limited by the types of punishers available

22. How to Use Punishment Well • punish each instance of behavior immediately • reinforce appropriate responses • provide instructions about the contingencies • use the mildest level that allows achievement of goals

23. How to Use Punishment Well (continued) • when reducing chains, punish early in the sequence • vary forms of punishment • recognize limitations of self-administered punishment

24. Differential Reinforcement to Decrease a Behavior • differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior (DRI) involves reinforcing behaviors that are difficult to do at the same time as the inappropriate behavior • differential reinforcement of low rates (DRL)of responding involves reinforcing the individual when rate of engaging in the inappropriate behavior is below a specified level

25. Differential Reinforcement to Decrease a Behavior (continued) • differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) involves reinforcing the individual when the inappropriate behavior does not occur at all

26. Habit Reversal • competing response practice requires maintenance of alternate response in presence of stimuli associated with an unwanted behavior • other methods make the individual more aware that he or she is engaging in an unwanted behavior through reinforcement or feedback

27. Self-Monitoring and Self-Instructions • self-monitoring procedures reduce unwanted behavior by requiring self-recording of instances of the behavior • self-instruction requires self-statements like "don't" when the behavior occurs

28. Tips on Using Extinction and Punishment • make clear the relationship between behavior and consequences • identify appropriate alternative behaviors, and reinforce them if they occur • clearly evaluate what consequences are maintaining inappropriate behaviors • expect bursts of inappropriate behavior early in the process of extinction

29. Tips on Using Extinction and Punishment (continued) • select weakest effective punishers • apply punishers immediately and after every instance of the behavior • response cost is effective only if there is something to lose • do not present punishers concurrently with reinforcers • use warning cues with presentation of punishers