Modifying Behaviors

Question 1

1.0 Contingency Contracts

Answer 1

Contingency Contracts

• formal written agreement between 2 or more people that clearly defines the behaviors taht are to be modified, and rewards/punishments that will follow.
• requires one or more people to change

Contract must include:

1. define what each party gets for meeting responsibilities.
2. behaviors must be capable of being monitored
3. sanctions for failure to meet contract defined
4. bonuses for consistent compliance defined
5. record keeping system established to provide constant feedback.
6. target person active in the contracts development

Question 2

2.0 Token Economy

Answer 2

Token Economy

1. Structured enviornment in which desired behaviors are increased by reinforcing them with tokens (secondary reinforcers) that can be exchanged for desired items, activities and back-up reinforcers;
   
   1. while undersirable behaviors are decreased by withholding or removing tokens following those behaviors.
2. define the target bx
3. select the secondary and back-up reinforcers
4. develop a system for monitoring and assessing the token economy
5. develop a plan for reducing and then eliminating (thinning) the reinforcers.

good because…permit immediate delivery of reinforcement….tailored to meet individual needs so each person can choose their own back-up reinforcers…..exchanged for a variety of reinforcers so less susceptible than primary reinforcers to satiation.

Question 3

3.0 Social Skills Training

Answer 3

Social Skills Training:

type of bx therapy and incorporates techniques derived from operant and classical conditioning and social learning theory.

techniques include: modeling, coaching, bx rehearsal, feedback, reinforcement, and homework.

effective intervention for reducing symptoms, decreasing the risk for relapse, improving the social adjustment of patients with Schizophrenia…improve bx for kids with conduct problems, and reducing depression in everyone especially when used with multimodal treatment approach.

Question 4

4.0 Function-Based Interventions

Answer 4

FBA

purpose of the bx and id more desirable substitute bx that serves same purpose.

abc of bx.

increase alternative bx and eliminate/decrease undersirable bx

eliminating the antecedents and consequences that are maintaining the bad bx and providing antecedents and consequences that support the alternative bx.