ABA - Cooper - Chapter 2 - Basic Concepts

Stimulus (Michael, 2004, p. 7)

"an *energy change* that affects an organism through its *receptor cells*"

Stimulus Class

Any *group of stimuli* sharing a predetermined *set of common elements* in one of more of these dimensions: *1. Formal dimensions of stimuli* (such as size, color, intensity, weight, & spatial position) *2. Temporal locus of stimuli* (occur PRIOR to behavior or AFTER behavior) *3. Behavioral functions of stimulus changes* (some stimulus changes occur immediate & powerful, whereas others are delayed and not noticeable)

Operant Behavior

Any behavior whose future frequency is determined primarily by its history of consequences: 1. Selected 2. Shaped 3. Maintained by consequences Defined functionally, by their effects

Behavior Change Tactics - Big Idea

Are how applied behavior analysts put the principles to work to help people learn and use socially significant behaviors

Behavior (Johnston & Pennypacker, 1980, 1993a)

"the behavior of an organism is that portion of an organism's *interaction with the environment* that is characterized by *detectable displacement in space through time* of some part of the organism and that results in *measurable change* in at least one aspect of the environment"

Respondent Extinction

(CS) would weaken and eventually cease if the (CS) was presented repeatedly in the absence of the (US)

Temporal locus of stimuli

*Bx* is affected by *stimulus changes* that: 1. occur prior to (Antecedent) 2. Immediately after the behavior (Consequence)

Three-Term Contingency

*Considered the basic unit of analysis in the analysis of operant behavior* All ABA procedures involve the manipulation of one or more components of the ____________.

Stimulus Changes Functioning as Reinforcers

*Positive Reinforcement* (Adding) A new stimulus added to the environment (or increased in intensity) *Negative Reinforcement* (Withdrawing) An already present stimulus removed from the environment (or reduced in intensity)

Descriptions of behavior: Structural and functional

*Response topography* - Form of Bx's - Physical characteristics - Functional - Effects of behavior on environment

Behavioral functions of stimulus changes

*Stimulus changes* are best understood through a functional analysis of their *effects on behavior*: 1. Immediate control 2. Delayed, or no apparent effect

Fundamental properties by which Bx can be measured: (The properties most amenable to measurement)

*Temporal locus* (when in time a specified Bx occurs) *Temporal extent* (the duration of a given Bx event) *Repeatability* (the freq. w/ a specified Bx occurs over time)

Respondent Behavior

- *Behavior* that is elicited by antecedent stimuli. - Induced, brought out by the stimulus that precedes it. - Something in your eye elicits eye blink (reflex) - Ready-made behaviors protect against harmful stimuli

Discriminated Operant

- A Bx that occurs more frequently under some antecedent conditions than it does under others

Motivating Operations

- Any operation that changes the status of a stimulus as a Reinforcer or Punisher? - Alters the current value of stimulus changes as reinforcement or punishment a. Satiation b. Deprivation

Stimulus Control

- When the freq. of a given Bx is higher in the presence of a given stimulus than when the stimulus is absent. - Due to pairings (antecedent/consequence) in the past, antecedents acquire the ability to control operant behavior.

Response Class

A group of *responses with the same function* (Each response in the group produces the same effect on the environment)

Respondent Conditioning

A stimulus-stimulus pairing procedure in which a neutral stimulus (NS) is presented with an unconditioned stimulus until the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus that elicits the conditioned response.

Environment

All behavior occurs within an environmental context; Behavior cannot be emitted in an environmental void or vacuum

Selection by Consequences

All forms of life, from single cells to complex cultures, evolve as a result of selection with respect to function (Pennypacker, 1994, pp. 12 -13) 1. Ontogeny 2. Phylogeny

Punishment - Big Ideas

Always means a decrease in response rate. The modifiers positive (adding) and negative (withdrawing). - Describe the type of stimulus change operation that best characterizes the consequence

Reinforcement - Big Ideas

Always means an increase in response rate. The modifiers positive (adding) and negative (withdrawing): -Describe the type of stimulus change operation that best characterizes the consequence

Response Topography (what you see)

Behavior can be described by its *physical shape* or *form of behavior*

Punishment

Behavior that is followed closely in time by a stimulus event and as a result the future frequency of that type of behavior decreases in similar conditions

Environment (Johnston & Pennypacker (1993a) definition)

Complex, dynamic universe of events that differ from instance to instance

Stimulus Events

Description of _____________________ can be described: *1. Formally:* - by their Physical features *2. Temporally:* - by when they occur with respect to a behavior of interest *3. Functionally:* - Effects on behavior

Formal dimensions of stimuli

Descriptions, measurements, manipulations based on: Size, color, intensity, etc. Stimuli can be: 1. Social 2. Nonsocial

Antecedent

Environmental conditions or stimulus changes that exist or occur prior to the behavior. - Play a critical part in learning and motivation - Learners do not need to be aware

Respondent Conditioning

Experimental demonstrations of respondent conditioning Ivan Petrovich Pavlov Digestive systems of dogs Animals salivated every time lab assistant opened the cage door to feed them

Habituation

Gradually diminishing response strength

The Complexity of Human Behavior

Highly complex variables governing human behavior. Human capabilities Large repertoires of response chains, verbal behavior Analysis of control complicated by Individual differences in histories of reinforcement Practical, ethical, logistical, etc. issues

Reinforcement - Defined

If Bx is followed closely in time by a stimulus event and as a result the future frequency of that type of behavior increases in similar conditions, what has taken place?

Reinforcement

Most important principle of behavior. Key element to most behavior change programs.

Phylogeny

Natural selection in the evolution of a species

Respondent Conditioning

New stimuli can acquire the ability to elicit respondents.

Ontogeny

Operates during the lifetime of the individual

Stimulus Changes Functioning as Punishers

Positive Punishment (Adding) Negative Punishment (Withdrawing)

Principles of behavior - Big Idea

Principles of what? *Lawful relationship between behavior*: An immediate consequence, and an *

Operant Conditioning

Process and selective effects of consequences on behavior.

Positive Punishment (Adding)

Punishment by contingent stimulation. A new stimulus added to the environment (or increased in intensity). Type I.

Negative Punishment (Withdrawing)

Punishment by contingent withdrawal of a positive reinforcer. An already present stimulus removed from the environment (or reduced in intensity). Type II.

Stimulus - Response relations

Reflex

Behavior change tactic

Research-based, technologically consistent method for changing behavior that has been derived from one or more basic principles of behavior. Sufficient generality across subjects, settings, and or behaviors to warrant its codification & dissemination. Technological aspect of ABA.

'Strengthen' an operant

Response more probable, more frequent Skinner, 1953, p. 65

Response

Specific instance of behavior, or an "action of an *organism's effector*"

Consequence

Stimulus change that *follows* a behavior of interest. - Especially those that are *immediate* and *relevant to current motivational states* have significant Influence on future behavior (Others have little effect)

Functional consequence

Stimulus change that follows a given behavior in a relatively immediate temporal sequence and alters the frequency of that type of behavior in the future

What kinds of *stimulus changes* function as reinforcers and punishers?

Unconditioned reinforcement and punishment. Function irrespective of prior learning history Conditioned reinforcers and punishers Function as such based on previous pairings with other reinforcers and punishers

Reinforcement has taken place

What has taken place when operant conditioning consists of an increase in response frequency?

Consequences: Operant Conditioning

____________ ___________: Consequences - Consequences can only affect future behavior. - Consequences select response classes, not individual responses. - Immediate consequences have the greatest effect. - Consequences select any behavior - Reinforcement and punishment are equal opportunity selectors - Importance of temporal relations

Stimulus changes

_________________ two basic kinds of functions or effects on Bx: An *immediate but temporary effect* of increasing or decreasing the current frequency of the behavior. A *delayed but relatively permanent effect* in terms of the frequency of that type of behavior in the future. (Michael, 1995)

Temporal locus of stimuli - Big Idea

_____________________ Big idea: Consequences combine with the antecedent conditions to determine what is learned. - individual aware or not.

Response Class

a group of *responses of varying topography*, all of which produce the *same effect on the environment.* (eg. Light switches)