This is why I love my friends. (Taken with instagram)
Understanding Behavior: Basics of ABA: Reinforcement: Make Me Do This More
First, let me start off by issuing an apology for taking so long to update this thing. Life gets in the way sometimes.
Reinforcement and punishment are vital components in ABA treatments. So, what are they? Those of you who are new t0 the science may come in with your own definitions, which is perfectly fine. The following posts are specific to ABA and are simply meant to make you think a bit.I think that starting with reinforcement is as good as any place to begin.
To start, reinforcement is the process on which stimuli is added or subtracted, resulting in an INCREASE in a particular behavior. Getting verbal praise for completing work (positive reinforcement) or taking medication to get rid of a headache (negative reinforcement) are just a couple of examples. So, what is positive reinforcement? Positive reinforcement is the ADDITION of stimuli to INCREASE behavior (this is important). Giving a child MnM’s during toilet training is a commonly used technique that results in independent toilet training later. The key element in this is that stimuli is added and behavior increases.
Negative reinforcement is different, and often I find that people already have a bad taste in their mouth when they hear “negative.” It isn’t as bad as it sounds. Negative reinforcement is the SUBTRACTION of stimuli that INCREASES behavior. Typically, this has to do with pain attenuation, task completion, or avoidant behavior in social settings. For instance, we engage in medication-taking behaviors to get rid of a headache. The REMOVAL of the headache is reinforcing the medication-taking behavior. Procrastination falls in here, as well (I haven’t started my case study on drastic neurological changes in individuals regarding EO’s because ESCAPE from that task is highly reinforcing to me at this moment).
So, the next time you do something, think about why you are doing it and have continued to do it for so long. Is it because you’re getting something out of it (REWARD), or just getting rid of something (RELIEF)?
This record will be in my top 5 for 2012.
Riley and I are about to get cake-drunk (Taken with instagram)
My first order of business as a master of science? Create an army of vulnerable tin robots hellbent on world domination, of course. (Taken with instagram)
Today, I am a MASTER OF SCIENCE.
So, today, I graduate with my master’s degree in psychology. It’s odd to go into this next week without planning for some paper, powerpoint presentation, chapter reading, or classroom discussions. I’ve spent the last 5 years going to school NON-STOP, year round (aside from two weeks a year for Christmas break) going to school.
I don’t really know how to explain how great this is right now.
The main thing I want to do here is just thank everyone who supported me throughout this entire project. I have the greatest family and friends in the world, and were it not for their support, I probably wouldn’t have made it this far. So here’s a list of thank-you’s:
My parents:
Thank you for my genetic code and for stressing the importance of education throughout my life. You guys are the greatest people I’ve ever met, and were it not for you, I wouldn’t be me.
My friends:
I have too many to thank individually, but thank you all for anything and everything you’ve ever done for me. I can’t begin to think how I will repay you all.
My family:
Again, I have too much family to thank individually, but to my family (biological, distant, and in-law) you have all been so great during this daunting task. Thank you!
My teachers:
I was lucky enough to have great role models during my early years of education, and even more fortunate to have stayed in contact with them over the years. The ability to connect with young children and show that education can be fun and important is a skill that is lacking within our schools, and I always felt that I was lucky enough to get those teachers who cared. Thank you all.
My wife and child:
More than anyone, thanks is owed to Callista and Riley. Callista, you have been beyond supportive of me throughout this, and I couldn’t have done any of this without you. Riley, you were such a motivation for me to get this done and give you the best life possible. Were it not for you two, I’d wouldn’t be here and now.
So, the point here is that as much as I am grateful for each and every one of you, I’ll never be able to pay you all back for what you’ve given me. I just wanted to let you all know how great you are and how much all of this has meant to me.
Now, bow before Spiker, MASTER OF SCIENCE.
I like to party (Taken with instagram)
Is this how FaceTime works? (Taken with instagram)
(Source: bestrooftalkever)
I did not direct my life. I didn’t design it. I never made decisions. Things always came up and made them for me. That’s what life is.
—B.F. Skinner
