1. Introduction to Behavior Analysis & The Reinforcer CH 1

2. Questions Why should we do behavior analysis? How should be do behavior analysis? How should we evaluate behavior analysis?

3. Why do behavior analysis? Practical side of behavior analysis –Improve life in the universe –“Quality of Life” Theoretical side –Scientific understanding of people, the world, the universe is of value, just like art and music –Scientific knowledge for knowledge’s sake

4. Why do behavior analysis? Two major goals –Understand the world Functional relationships –Save the world

5. =Similarity= ═Goal of humanity ═Well being of life in the universe ═Goal of behavior analysis ═Well being of life in the universe ═(Goal of any profession) ═Well being of life in the universe

6. How can we build a better world? Design systems that make people –Maximize human potential for growth –Happy –Healthy –Productive

7. Behavior Analysts Behavior-change professionals Deal with problems that might affect –An individual –Groups –Communities –Ecosystems –Future generations

8. Technology of Change Behavior analysts have developed and tested a technology of behavior change

9. Brief Quiz (thought question) Where would you like to see behavior analysts make a difference? List several situations. When answering this question, think about your parents, boss, teachers, friends, yourself, your environment, etc.

10. What variables play a part in what we are doing? 1.Evolutionary past – genes 2.History of interaction with environment – contingencies 3.Current conditions – S D ’s

11. Behavior Analysts Concerned primarily with contingencies and how they affect behavior Knowledge of contingencies help us predict what will happen in the presence of discriminative stimuli and conditional stimuli

13. Chapter 1 The Reinforcer

14. Family Life An example from Journal of Abnormal & Social Psychology

15. Concept: Reinforcer Behavior: Rod cries Before: Rod has no attention from Dawn After: Rod has attention from Dawn Behavior: Rod whimpers Before: Rod is alone After: Rod is not alone Behavior: Sid whines Before: Sid has no hug After: Sid has hug

16. Concept: Reinforcer Behavior: Cat sits Before: Cat has no treat After: Cat has treat

17. What is a positive reinforcer? A stimulus that increases the frequency of a response it follows

18. Stimulus: used inclusively Stimuli – sunset, taste of a smoothie, smile Event – race or concert Activities – playing guitar, shooting hoops Conditions – hot or cold, tired

19. How immediate is immediate? 60 second rule Never push the 60 sec limit

20. What is a reinforcer? Silver star on forehead for each answer? Sticker for each instance of raising hand? Praise after instances of sharing materials? How do you know a stimulus is a reinforcer?

22. Examples of reinforcers? Pin a token to the back of your shirt? Handing a visually impaired person a magnifying glass? Attention from a group? Watching someone tantrum?

23. Can problems be maintained by positive reinforcement? Unfortunately, this is often the case….. Reinforcement is effective regardless of whether it is explicitly arranged –E.g., watching paper towels fly….. Sometimes you reinforce one behavior even when you think you are reinforcing something else (Drennan’s belt requests)

25. Dead-man test If a dead man can do it, it ain’t behavior. And, if a dead man can’t do it, then it is behavior. How about thinking?

26. Behavior Anything a dead man can’t do What about imagining? Behavior is anything an animal (including the human animal) does. A muscle, glandular, or electrical activity.

27. Behavior = Response

28. Behavior Analysis The study of the principles of behavior

29. Behavior Analysts Experimental Behavior Analyst Theoretical Behavior Analyst Applied Behavior Analyst Behavior analysts often work as performance managers……behavior manager…….behavior modifier. Clinical Behavior Analyst

32. REPERTOIRE

33. What is the difference between a repertoire and a response? You are what you do… you are your repertoire…. A repertoire is a set of skills, what a person or animal can do. Can you pronounce it correctly?

34. Behavioral Interventions The use of a behavioral procedure We “intervene,” we do not “treat” Before intervening, there is a baseline phase during which the behavior of interest is measured in the absence of the intervention.

35. Assess reinforcers Behavior that is reinforced is strengthened Praise is a potential reinforcer –Does a behavior that is followed by praise occur more frequently in the future?

36. Reinforcer assessment: Before spending much time trying to reinforce behavior, make sure you have a true reinforcer.

37. Reinforcer Assessment Procedures Ask Observe Direct assessment: –E.g., Forced choice

38. Harmful reinforcers? How can this be possible?

39. Behavioral Event Before: Your distant relative had no reinforcing taste of food. Behavior: Your distant ancestor found and ate food After: Your distant ancestor had the reinforcing taste of food Biological Results: Distant ancestor nourished & more likely to survive and was more likely to reproduce and continue the lineage that produced YOU!

41. Be aware “If it feels too good, be careful. It’ll likely sneak up from behind and bite you on your rear end…”

43. Preparation Interpret and predict complex human behavior To be successful, must develop a repertoire that includes correct use of basic terms and an understanding of the basic principles