Last time we talked about the four functions of behavior. The function of your child’s behavior is its driving force. It’s what causes the behavior to continue to happen over and over again. The function of the behavior ties into the type of reinforcement it’s receiving. There are two types of reinforcement, positive and negative. Today we are going to break them down and learn a little bit about what they are and how they work.
When you think about positive and negative reinforcement, think about math (don’t worry, we’re sticking to simple addition and subtraction!). Positive reinforcement is like addition. Negative reinforcement is like subtraction.
Positive reinforcement means that once a behavior occurs, something is added to the environment. For example, you are talking to your neighbor who stopped when your child starts knocking items off of your bookshelves and throwing them. You repeatedly stop your conversation to ask your child to stop and give him/her new toys to play with instead. In doing so, you gave him/her access to your attention and toys (it was added to his/her environment). So now, they are more likely to engage in those behaviors again in the future.
Negative reinforcement means that once a behavior occurs, something is taken away from the environment. For example, your child is working on a difficult homework assignment and begins to complain of a stomach ache. You let them go lay down and rest and they end up falling asleep. In doing so, you allowed them to get out of having to complete a difficult task (it was removed from his/her environment).
The addition or removal of reinforcers influences the function of the behavior. Most behaviors that are maintained by sensory input, attention, and tangibles receive positive reinforcement. Behaviors that are maintained by escaping demands or sensory input receive negative reinforcement. When you learn to identify the function of the behavior and the type of reinforcement it receives, you are better able to understand why the behavior is occurring and how to change it.
When you begin your ABA therapy journey, your BCBA should not only set goals for your child but for you as well. Breaking down the concepts of reinforcement and the functions of behavior for you is a great place to start. This will help you develop a better understanding of the goals they have set for your child and the techniques they have chosen in order to accomplish those goals.
Once your BCBA has identified the function(s) of your child’s behaviors they will create a behavior reduction plan and set skill acquisition goals for your child. All interventions and procedures used should be evidence-based. This simply means they are proven to be effective. There is a multitude of evidence-based practices for ABA. Over the next few articles I want to introduce you to a few of the most commonly used practices for early and intensive ABA programs.