Antecedent Control Procedures Chapter 16 Antecedent Control Procedures

Antecedent Control Procedures Based on functional assessment information One of three functional, nonaversive interventions Involves altering the environment in advance of the target behavior Addresses antecedents rather than consequences of operant behavior Addresses consequences indirectly through manipulation of establishing operations Increases the probability of the desirable target behavior and decreases the probability of undesirable alternative behavior Also called stimulus control procedures or situational inducement

Procedures to Increase the Probability of the Desirable Target Behavior 1. Present SD or cues for desirable behavior 2. Present EO for desirable behavior 3. Decrease response effort for desirable behavior

Present SD or cues for desirable behavior The desirable behavior is under the stimulus control of the SD When the SD is present, the behavior is more likely Cues serve as prompts or reminders Examples:

Examples: Presenting SDs or cues Seating arrangement to facilitate conversation in a nursing home Reminder to floss on the bathroom mirror Fruit in the fridge Going to the library to study Activity placemats at restaurants

Present EO for desirable behavior An EO makes the reinforcer for the desirable behavior more potent An EO increases the probability of the desirable behavior Examples:

Examples: Presenting EOs No snacks before meal time Arrange a contact for getting work done No naps to make sleeping more likely at night Pictures of rotten teeth to make flossing more likely Decrease wait time for MR person who has to stand in line at a store

Decrease response effort for desirable behavior A behavior is more probable when it requires less response effort than does a concurrent operant Response effort may be decreased through environmental manipulation Examples:

Examples: Decreasing response effort Recycling box next to desk Healthy foods in easy reach Books in backpack Easy to use car seats Coffee shop on every corner

Procedures to Decrease the Probability of Competing (Undesirable) Behavior 1. Remove SDs or cues for competing behaviors 2. Eliminate EOs for competing behaviors 3. Increase response effort for competing behavior

Remove SDs or cues for competing behaviors In the absence of the SD, the competing behavior is less likely Examples:

Examples: Removing SDs or cues Get junk food out of the house Keep partying friends out of your place at study time Separate fighting kids at the restaurant Don’t drive past McDonalds after school

Eliminate EOs for competing behaviors Without an EO, the reinforcer for competing behavior will not be potent Without an EO, the competing behavior is less likely to occur Examples:

Examples: Removing EOs Curriculum modifications to reduce problem behavior maintained by escape Noncontingent attention, tangibles, or breaks Provide choice of activities Pain relief Mood induction Food shopping only after eating

Increase response effort for competing behavior A behavior that requires more response effort than a concurrent operant is less likely Response effort is increased through environmental manipulation Examples:

Examples: Increase response effort No change in pockets/purse for candy machines No junk food in the house Seat aggressive person away from victim Keep trash can away from desk (recycle box on desk)

Using Antecedent Control Procedures Assess antecedents and consequences for desirable behavior and competing behavior Assess response effort for desirable and competing behaviors Determine which relevant SDs and EOs you can manipulate Determine whether you can manipulate response effort for desirable or competing behaviors

Factors that influence the use of antecedent control procedures Have you identified the relevant antecedents? Can these antecedents be altered? How acceptable will it be to alter these antecedents?