Behavior Management Techniques Flashcards

A CTA is implementing a token economy. What is the critical step before selecting backup reinforcers?

Answer: Conduct a preference assessment

A preference assessment identifies items and activities the learner finds motivating, ensuring backup reinforcers are truly reinforcing.

Which prompt type provides the least intrusive support and should be tried before more intensive prompts in a least-to-most hierarchy?

Answer: Indirect verbal prompt

An indirect verbal prompt (e.g., 'What do you do next?') is the least intrusive because it relies on the learner's own knowledge.

Behavioral momentum refers to:

Answer: Presenting high-probability requests before low-probability requests to increase compliance

Behavioral momentum uses a series of easy (high-p) requests to create compliance momentum before presenting a difficult (low-p) request.

A learner starts screaming when their routine is unexpectedly changed. The MOST likely function of this behavior is:

Answer: Escape

Unexpected changes to routine often function as aversive stimuli; screaming is commonly escape-maintained when used to avoid or terminate unwanted changes.

Which type of punishment involves adding an aversive stimulus following a behavior?

Answer: Positive punishment

Positive punishment adds an unpleasant stimulus (e.g., reprimand) after a behavior to decrease its future frequency.

A behavior that serves no social function and appears to be self-reinforcing is said to be maintained by:

Answer: Automatic reinforcement

Automatic reinforcement occurs when behavior produces its own sensory or internal consequences independent of others.

When a problem behavior increases temporarily after extinction begins, this is called:

Answer: Extinction burst

An extinction burst is the temporary escalation in frequency or intensity of a behavior when reinforcement is first withheld.