PSY 7710 YU Reinforcement in Behavior & Controversial Treatment Essays

ASSIGNMENT #1

In a prior assignment, you considered some controversial treatments that were not evidence based. Controversial treatments can also be evidence based. There is debate in the field of ABA surrounding treatments involving guided compliance and extinction, particularly attention extinction and escape extinction. Some behavior analysts are quick to jump to these interventions, not fully considering how the side effects will impact the client. These interventions can be aversive and arguably considered punishment.

Use the Controversial Behavior Analytic Procedures Template [DOCX] to complete the following:

Conduct a search for information on one of the following aversive procedures: guided (forced) compliance, attention extinction, and escape extinction. Cite the source and describe the treatment.

Discuss 3–4 pro statements that might be given to support the use of the treatment. Also, discuss 3–4 con statements that might be given to oppose the treatment.

Evaluate your findings. Discuss at least four relevant ethics codes that you have learned in this course thus far.

ASSIGNMENT #2

Behavior analysts work to change an individual’s socially significant behaviors in meaningful ways. As the conceptually systematic dimension states, basic principles of behavior are used to change behaviors. The first basic principle we explore is reinforcement. Reinforcement is used to increase behaviors in an individual’s repertoire. Behavior analysts not only work to decrease behaviors, but they also work to increase behaviors. Understanding how reinforcement works is important for adding new behaviors to an individual’s repertoire.

For this assignment, complete the following:

Define both positive and negative reinforcement. Be sure to explain how they are similar and how they are different in your definitions.

Provide two real-world, detailed examples of how positive reinforcement could be used to increase behaviors you would like to see occur more often. Also, provide two examples of how negative reinforcement could be used to increase behaviors you would like to see occur more often. For example, an individual may use positive reinforcement to increase the behavior of working out. She could pay herself 10 dollars after five consecutive days of working out. Another individual may use negative reinforcement to increase the behavior of cooking healthy meals. If her dinner meals include at least two different vegetables, she can skip doing the dishes immediately after eating.