Behavior Reduction Interventions Flashcards

A client has a history of screaming to get access to a preferred toy. The behavior plan states that the technician should give the client the toy every 10 minutes, regardless of the client's behavior. This is an example of which antecedent intervention?

Answer: Noncontingent Reinforcement (NCR)

Noncontingent Reinforcement (NCR) is an antecedent intervention where reinforcement is delivered on a fixed-time or variable-time schedule, independent of the client's behavior. [15, 11] By providing the toy on a set schedule, the client's motivation to scream for it is reduced. [7, 10]

An ABAT is implementing a plan to reduce a student's out-of-seat behavior. The plan involves providing praise and a token every 5 minutes that the student remains in their seat. This procedure, which reinforces the absence of the problem behavior for a specific time period, is known as:

Answer: Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior (DRO)

Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior (DRO) involves delivering reinforcement when the problem behavior has not occurred during a specific interval of time. [1, 3] In this case, the student is reinforced for any behavior except getting out of their seat during the 5-minute interval. [2, 13]

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the use of Differential Reinforcement of an Incompatible Behavior (DRI)?

Answer: A client who bites their nails is given a fidget toy to squeeze whenever they feel the urge to bite.

Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior (DRI) involves reinforcing a behavior that cannot physically occur at the same time as the problem behavior. [2, 3] Squeezing a fidget toy is incompatible with biting nails, as both actions cannot be done simultaneously. The other options describe DRL, DRO, and DRA.

When an extinction procedure is first implemented, it is common for the target behavior to temporarily increase in frequency, intensity, or duration before it begins to decrease. What is this phenomenon called?

Answer: Extinction Burst

An extinction burst is a predictable and temporary increase in the target behavior that occurs when reinforcement is first withheld. [6, 14] It is a common reaction to the removal of reinforcement for a previously reinforced behavior. [12, 16]

A behavior reduction plan calls for teaching a child to ask for a break instead of throwing materials to escape a difficult task. The technician reinforces the child for saying "break, please" and does not allow the child to leave the task when they throw materials. This is an example of:

Answer: Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA)

Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA) is a procedure where reinforcement is provided for a specific, more appropriate behavior that serves the same function as the problem behavior, while the problem behavior is put on extinction. [1, 2] Here, asking for a break is an alternative to throwing materials to achieve escape. [13, 18]

After successfully reducing a client's tantrum behavior to zero occurrences for several weeks using an extinction procedure, the client suddenly has a brief tantrum one day. This reappearance of a previously extinguished behavior is known as:

Answer: Spontaneous Recovery

Spontaneous recovery is the temporary re-emergence of a behavior that was previously reduced or eliminated through extinction after a period of time has passed. [9, 14] It is typically less intense and shorter in duration than the original behavior. [12]