Incorporating ABA into Everyday Life
Hello!
This post will be a little different than my other posts. I’ll share lots of examples of how we use the concepts of ABA, reinforcers and punishers, in our everyday lives.
Concept 1: Reinforcers
ABA definition- Reinforcers are a fundamental concept in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) that can be incredibly powerful tools. Reinforcers are specific rewards or consequences that are used to increase the likelihood of desired behaviors occurring again in the future. They can be anything that you or your child finds motivating, such as praise, tokens, treats or extra playtime. By identifying and utilizing effective reinforcers, you can effectively shape your or your child's behavior in a positive and meaningful way, making daily routines and learning experiences more enjoyable and successful.
Example (child)- Your child really hates having broccoli. You being a smart parent remember that if you give your child a piece of broccoli and then follow it up with a mini m&m (your child’s favourite!), then in the future your child starts to eat more broccoli.
Personal example- I used to be really lazy to go to the gym. I used reinforcement, in the form of mini chocolate bars to increase my gym going behaviour. I could only get a a mini chocolate bar if I went to the gym. If you use this, make sure you reserve the treat and cannot have access to it outside of when you hit the gym.
Clinical example (child)- A child is learning how to type her name. Every time she types her name correctly, the clinician praises her by saying, “Great job typing you name!” and giving her access to bubbles (her favourite activity). She soon types her name without any prompts!
Example (adult)- You go to work and you realize that you have a very long meeting to start off the day, BUT your workplace provides you with a fun boozy lunch. Next time when you have a very long meeting, you may be less hesitant to attend.
Concept 2: Punishers
Oh no, it’s the P word!! I know there is a lot of taboo around the use of punishers and the field of ABA and I assure you that we’ll cover that in another blog post soon. However, punishers are a wonderful and we encounter them all the time in daily life!!
The definition of a punisher in ABA is different from the definition of a punisher in everyday language.
Punishment in the Context of ABA
In the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), punishment is an intervention strategy utilized to decrease the occurrence of undesirable behavior. It involves the presentation of a consequence that diminishes the likelihood of the target behavior being repeated in the future. While punishment may seem synonymous with negative consequences, it is essential to understand that ABA emphasizes the use of punishment only when it is ethically justified and when other behavior change strategies have been exhausted.
Punishment principles in ABA are governed by specific guidelines to ensure effectiveness and minimize potential drawbacks. These guidelines are rooted in the principle of "least restrictive alternative," meaning that the least intrusive form of punishment should be used. ABA practitioners strive to implement strategies that prioritize the well-being and dignity of the individual receiving the intervention.
There are two types of punishment used in ABA: positive punishment and negative punishment.
Positive punishment involves the introduction of an aversive stimulus after the occurrence of the undesired behavior, aiming to diminish its future recurrence. For instance, if a child engages in hitting others during playtime and a brief timeout is enforced, the removal of social interaction serves as the aversive stimulus.
Negative punishment focuses on the removal of a pleasant stimulus following the target behavior, reducing the probability of its reoccurrence. For example, if a teenager displays inappropriate language while using their phone, temporarily taking away the phone privileges serves as the negative punishment, removing the pleasurable activity.
The severity, intensity, and duration of the punishment should be calibrated to fit the specific situation and individual. Moreover, the use of punishment in ABA involves continuous data collection and analysis to monitor its effectiveness. If the target behavior fails to decrease in frequency or negative side effects occur, alternate approaches should be explored. Additionally, ABA professionals collaborate closely with caregivers and stakeholders to ensure that the treatment plan aligns with the values and goals of the individual receiving intervention.
Punishment in Everyday Language
Punishment is a concept deeply ingrained in societies around the world, serving as an essential component of legal systems and social frameworks. It refers to the imposition of a penalty or consequence upon an individual or group that has violated established norms, rules, or laws. The primary objective of punishment is to deter individuals from engaging in undesirable behavior, maintain social order, and promote justice.
So to sum it up, I promise you that clinicians should not be using punishment without a parent’s consent and until many other strategies have been tried. This does not mean that punishment is a bad thing, like I said before we use punishment everyday. Let’s go over a couple of examples.
Example (child)- You have two children - Aria and Bani. Aria keeps biting Bani really hard so you tell her that if she bites again, she will no longer get any ice cream. Aria stops biting Bani.
Personal example (child)- As I grew up, I was caught swearing (oops) and my parents definitely did not want me to swear. They told me that if I swear again, I would have my mouth washed out with soap. Now, I don’t think my mom would have actually done that, but I was definitely not trying to find out so I stopped swearing.
Clinical Example (child)- A child engages in very severe self-injurious behaviour. This poor child is constantly kicking his foot against anything he can find. He loves watching videos on the tablet. The parents and clinicians have tried all the positive reinforcement strategies, such as putting a cushion against all legs of chairs and table or giving a piece of chocolate every 10 seconds that the child does not kick the table, but nothing has worked. With the parents permission, the clinician suggests a a punishment procedure- to remove the tablet anytime he kicks a surface. With this procedure, there is a quick decrease in the occurences of kicking surfaces!
Example (adult)- You’re driving home from work. You’re taking your typical route home and you know exactly where all the cops usually stand. Unfortunately, a cop is standing in a new place today and you were going 70kms in a 50km zone. You are stopped by the cop and he gives you a ticket. In the future, you' are more likely to drive speed limit (at least in areas where you are aware that there is a cop or where you were pulled over before).
Can you think of any examples of reinforcement or punishers that you have used or you have been exposed to in the past?
