Self Injurious Behavior Analysis

The extinction burst, is noticed as an increase in frequency, duration and intensity of an unreinforced behavior during the extinction process. Once the extinction process is successful. Then the effect of extinction is known as the disappearance of a previously learned behavior when the behavior is not reinforced. However, the term extinction is mainly associated with operant conditioning as well as respondent conditioning which is:

The treatment of self-defeating behavior involves helping out the client to understand original issues, being acquainted with the patterns of SIB, acquisition of unconventional survival skills, tracking behaviors, repairing every day performance and management, and improving interpersonal dexterity. It is important to let the client advance and progress in the process at a snail's pace so that the mastery at each new stage of behavioral and systemic change could be reached (Stone & Sias 2003).

Keeping in mind that identifying the variables that maintain problem behavior (reinforcement) is more affective for treatment selection (Mevers, Fisher, Kelley, and Fredrick, 2014), one common treatment for problem behavior is Noncontingent reinforcement. (Carr, Severston, & Lepper, 2009). NCR is used in combination with extinction for problem behavior and involves dense schedules of reinforcement that are decreased gradually (as cited in; Phillips, Iannaccone, Rooker, and Hagopian, 2017). The problem behavior may be replaced by an alternative behavior already existing in the individual repertoire, during NCR (Virues-Ortega, Iwata, Fahmie, and Harper, 2013). The American Psychological Association’s Division 12 criteria for empirically supported treatments established NCR and extinctions as an effective treatment for problem behavior (Chambless & Hollon, 1998). When the schedules of NCR are dense there is a reduction of the Motivating operation (MO) for problem behavior (as cited in; Phillips, Iannaccone, Rooker, and Hagopian, 2017). NCR is more effective when the same reinforcement maintaining the behavior (functional reinforcement) is used in the contingency instead of an alternative reinforcement (as cited in Phillips,iannaccone, Rooker, & Hagopian, 2017). Thus, the same reinforcement responsible for maintaining problem behavior should be used in an NCR contingency (Vollmer et al. 1993). In a study by Phillips, Iannaccone, Rooker, & Hagopian (2017), Non-contingent

Multiple treatments have been established to treat escape maintained behavior. Escape extinction is often utilized in the treatment of behaviors that are maintained through the removal of demands. Escape extinction involves no longer allowing the delay, removal, or avoidance of demands contingent on the occurrence of the problem behavior (Iwata, Pace, Kalsher, Cowdery, & Cataldo, 1990). Escape extinction provides some advantages as it is easily compatible with other treatments, increasing the effectiveness of those treatments. However, escape extinction may have some disadvantages including that it may be difficult for those providing treatment to do so with high levels of integrity due to the effort involved in doing so. If treatment is not implemented consistently it may make it more difficult to implement extinction in the future (McConnachi & Carr, 1997). There may also be an increase in the targeted response and aggression following extinction (Lerman, Iwata, & Wallace, 1999). While extinction is effective there are associated side effects that are incompatible with wide spread use in many public settings such as classrooms. There is a need for

Martin, a behavior analyst, is working with Sara, a 14-year-old girl with severe developmental delays who exhibits self-injurious behavior (SIB). The self-injurious behaviors included pulling her hair, biting her arm and banging her head against the wall. After conducting a functional analysis, Martin decided to employ an intervention program consisting of differential reinforcement of other (DRO) desired behavior. Martin collected data on Sara's SIB before and during the intervention. Below is a depiction of the data that Martin collected:

The author, a professor of special education, is an expert in the areas of behavior disorders, the assessment and treatment of behavioral disorders and interventions for behavioral disorders. This article provides an objective and useful discussion regarding the relationship between Behavior Intervention Plans and the issues that must be address by school staff when developing and monitoring them. The author also provides readers with specific areas which must be address when developing Behavior Intervention Plans. The information provided may be useful for teachers and school staff.

Among the most widely disseminated procedures derived directly from the principles of applied behavior analysis have been those applied to the analysis and treatment of common childhood problems (e.g., Arndorfer, Allen, & Aljazireh, 1999; Schroeder & Gordon, 1991; Watson & Gresham, 1998). Applied behavior analysts have developed a countless effective interventions for common childhood problems and have repeatedly demonstrated that, even in loosely controlled applied environments, behavior often responds rather quickly to properly managed contingencies. Yet, despite these successes, some have maintained that simply providing repeated demonstrations of the effectiveness of behavioral technology eventually will yield diminishing returns to the field (Kunkel, 1987). The success of an intervention is dependent not only upon its effectiveness but also upon its precise delivery by a clinician and the consistency with which parents and staff implement that treatment with all of its essential

The article “Reducing Behavior Problems Through Functional Communication Training” by Edward G. Carr and V. Mark Durand addresses the issues of choosing replacement behaviors. The research consisted of two experiments. The first experiment considered when problem behaviors are more likely to take place. The problem behaviors were aggression, tantrums, and self-injury. The results disclosed lack of adult attention and the difficultly of the task both activated behavioral problems. The second experiment used the assessment data collected from the first experiment to select a replacement behavior. The children were taught to verbally seek help, attention, or both from adults. The purpose of the study was to provide more direction when choosing a functionally appropriate replacement behavior in order to decrease inappropriate behaviors.

Positive behavioral interventions and supports, also known as PBIS, has gone through several developments over the years. According to Sugai and Simonsen (2012), in the 1980's it was decided that there was a need for a system that would better implement and document behavioral interventions for students who have a variety of behavioral disorders (BD). In the 1990's it was added to the reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Act.

Behavior therapy involves reinforcing desired behaviors through rewards and praise and decreasing problem behaviors by setting limits and consequences.(Chris A. Zeigler Dendy, 2006) For example, one intervention might be that a teacher rewards a child who has ADHD for taking small steps toward raising a hand before talking in class, even if the child still blurts out a comment.(Chris A. Zeigler Dendy, 2006) The theory is that rewarding the struggle toward change encourages new behavior. This may also involve creating a routine for the child, making goals for the child to achieve. This may help with some children but not all. In dealing with this kind of therapy, the child may not be getting the kind of help needed to control themselves at school or in other public situations. However therapy has been proven to work best if it is accompanied by a pharmaceutical treatment and they work

In today’s society, people are very concerned about the behaviors of individuals and why the do certain things in a certain way. Communities are doing research and creating journals to help us out with this difficult subject. One journal is The Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA). This journal is published by the Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior and aims to share research about the experimental analysis of behavior and how it can be applied to problems of social importance. Another scholarly journal focused on behavior studies is The Behaviour Research and Therapy journal. This journal focuses on understanding behavior and emotional disorders and ways to prevent and treat them. The methods used to understand these disorders include cognitive, behavioral, and psychophysiological models, examples, and methods.Both journals are great sources for gathering information and research about human behaviors and their relation to social skills.

Participants: M. Parker, Guidance Counselor, B. Michael, Social worker, Parent, D. Shaw Principal, S. Roberts, Behavioral Consultant, Classroom Teachers; D. Chemnitz and C. Ragusa

Functional Behavior Assessments Many students with exceptionalities exhibit undesirable behaviors that are a result of a disability. In order to ensure that students are successful in their education, an important component present in special education is behavior modification. The functional behavior assessment is an effective tool used to identify problem behaviors, the reason behind them, and propose action plans to modify the behavior. There are many observational methods used to complete a functional behavior assessment.

Self-injurious behavior is one of the most devastating behaviors exhibited by people with developmental disabilities and ASD. The most common forms of these behaviors include: head-banging, hand-biting, and excessive self-rubbing and scratching. There are many other self-injurious behavior such as, impulsive SIB appeared to be associated with suicide attempts, a history of sexual abuse, and depression (Favaro, A., & Santonastaso, P.1999)

PURPOSE: The purpose of the extinction experiment is to gradually decline the response rate with which rat number four presses the lever of the Operant Chamber. Extinction is the schedule of no reinforcement. It works by eliminating the reinforcers or dispensation of food when the rat presses the lever, and the rate of response of the animal declines. In addition, after several days, the rat was placed in the Operant Chamber again for a spontaneous recovery experiment. The purpose for the spontaneous recovery experiment consists of the increase in the rate of responding of the previously extinguished behavior (lever pressing for food). This happens because an animal responds more frequently at the begining of a new session than at the end of the old, although no reinforcement is given during the experiment.