Question 1

Describe three limitations of functional analyses.

Accepted Answer

(a)If the problem behaviors occur at low frequencies, experimental functional analysis requires a great deal of time before sufficient data can be obtained to draw valid conclusions; (b)it cannot be applied to extremely dangerous behaviors, such as suicide threats; (c)because they require a number of observational sessions, the expense and manpower requirements may be prohibitive.

Question 2

Briefly describe how a functional analysis indicated that Susie's self-injurious behavior was likely maintained because it enabled her to escape from demanding adults.
 How did the treatment condition confirm the functional analysis?

Accepted Answer

In Susie's case, the staff directly compared the rate of Susie's self-abusiveness under three conditions: (a)when it was followed by attention from well-meaning adults; (b)when it enabled Susie to escape from performing various tasks; and (c)when there were no programmed consequences.Susie's self-abusiveness was highest when it allowed her to escape from a demand condition.The conclusion that her abusiveness was maintained by escape conditioning was confirmed through an escape extinction program.Instead of backing off from demands placed on Susie following instances of self-abuse, staff continued to require Susie to respond to the demands.Under these conditions, self-abuse decreased to near zero.

Question 3

What is behavioral diagnostics? In what sense is this term broader than functional assessment?

Accepted Answer

Behavioral diagnostics is an approach to behavioral assessment in which the therapist diagnoses the problem after examining antecedents, consequences, and medical and nutritional variables as potential causes of problem behaviors.This concept is broader than functional assessment because it not only includes the external environment, but also internal medical factors.

Question 4

Describe how Rincover and Devaney applied extinction to a problem that appeared to be maintained by self-stimulatory reinforcement.

Accepted Answer

Rincover and Devaney applied extinction

Question 5

What is an indicator that a problem behavior is being reinforced by nonsocial external sensory stimulation? Give an example illustrating this indicator.

Accepted Answer

The behavior continues undiminished even

Question 6

Describe a behavior principle other than respondent conditioning that fits the second sense of functional analysis of behavior and explain how it fits the second sense but not the first.

Accepted Answer

For example, the principle of operant ex

Question 7

Describe how internal sensory negative reinforcement might be a cause of some cases of binge eating.

Accepted Answer

Researchers have provided evid

Question 8

Suppose that a nonverbal child screams loudly as a way of escaping from demands by adults in various training settings.Describe two alternative strategies that the adults might follow to deal with the problem behavior.

Accepted Answer

(a)Remove the escape function of the beh

Question 9

State the two meanings of the term functional analysis of behavior.

Accepted Answer

The narrow meaning of functional analysi

Question 10

What were the results of the functional analysis of the causes of excessive delusional statements made by Mr.Jones, and what was the treatment of the delusional statements based on the results of the functional analysis?

Accepted Answer

The results with Mr.Jones showed that fa

Question 11

What does the term functional assessment refer to?

Accepted Answer

Functional assessment refers t

Question 12

Define the term functional analysis.

Accepted Answer

Functional analysis refers to the system

Question 13

What are three indicators that a problem behavior is probably maintained by the social attention that follows it?

Accepted Answer

(a)Attention reliably follows the behavi

Question 14

What is an indicator that a problem behavior is being maintained by self-stimulatory reinforcement? [

Accepted Answer

An indicator that a problem behavior is

Question 15

What are the two main indicators that a problem behavior is respondent behavior that is elicited by prior stimuli vs.operant behavior being maintained by reinforcing consequences? Give an example illustrating these indicators.

Accepted Answer

The behavior consistently occurs in a ce

Question 16

Briefly describe how each of the three limitations of functional analyses has been addressed in attempts to overcome these limitations.

Accepted Answer

(a)One way to reduce the time required f

Question 17

Briefly discuss, with examples, what the results of Iwata et al.'s research suggest for the treatment of severe self-injurious behavior.

Accepted Answer

Iwata et al.'s results suggest that even

Question 18

In a sentence for each, outline the six major causes of operant problem behaviors described in this chapter.

Accepted Answer

Problem behaviors might be increased and

Question 19

Briefly describe the four conditions in the multielement design that Iwata et al.(Iwata, Dorsey, Slifer, Bauman, & Richman, 1982, 1994)used in the functional analysis they carried out on self-injurious behavior.

Accepted Answer

(a)In an attention condition, a child an

Question 20

Discuss how and why the functional analytic approach of applied behavior analysts and behavior therapists differs from the approach of many traditional psychologists and psychiatrists. Give an example.

Accepted Answer

Many traditional psychologists and psych

Exam 23: Functional Assessment of Problem Behavior

Describe three limitations of functional analyses.

Briefly describe how a functional analysis indicated that Susie's self-injurious behavior was likely maintained because it enabled her to escape from demanding adults. How did the treatment condition confirm the functional analysis?

What is behavioral diagnostics? In what sense is this term broader than functional assessment?

Describe how Rincover and Devaney applied extinction to a problem that appeared to be maintained by self-stimulatory reinforcement.

What is an indicator that a problem behavior is being reinforced by nonsocial external sensory stimulation? Give an example illustrating this indicator.

Describe a behavior principle other than respondent conditioning that fits the second sense of functional analysis of behavior and explain how it fits the second sense but not the first.

Describe how internal sensory negative reinforcement might be a cause of some cases of binge eating.

Suppose that a nonverbal child screams loudly as a way of escaping from demands by adults in various training settings.Describe two alternative strategies that the adults might follow to deal with the problem behavior.

State the two meanings of the term functional analysis of behavior.

What were the results of the functional analysis of the causes of excessive delusional statements made by Mr.Jones, and what was the treatment of the delusional statements based on the results of the functional analysis?

What does the term functional assessment refer to?

Define the term functional analysis.

What are three indicators that a problem behavior is probably maintained by the social attention that follows it?

What is an indicator that a problem behavior is being maintained by self-stimulatory reinforcement? [

What are the two main indicators that a problem behavior is respondent behavior that is elicited by prior stimuli vs.operant behavior being maintained by reinforcing consequences? Give an example illustrating these indicators.

Briefly describe how each of the three limitations of functional analyses has been addressed in attempts to overcome these limitations.

Briefly discuss, with examples, what the results of Iwata et al.'s research suggest for the treatment of severe self-injurious behavior.

In a sentence for each, outline the six major causes of operant problem behaviors described in this chapter.

Briefly describe the four conditions in the multielement design that Iwata et al.(Iwata, Dorsey, Slifer, Bauman, & Richman, 1982, 1994)used in the functional analysis they carried out on self-injurious behavior.

Discuss how and why the functional analytic approach of applied behavior analysts and behavior therapists differs from the approach of many traditional psychologists and psychiatrists. Give an example.

Introduction

Areas of Application: an Overview

Respondent Classical, Pavlovian Conditioning of Reflexive Behavior

Increasing a Behavior With Positive Reinforcement

Increasing Behavior With Conditioned Reinforcement

Decreasing a Behavior With Operant Extinction

Getting a New Behavior to Occur With Shaping

Developing Behavioral Persistence With Schedules of Reinforcement

Responding at the Right Time and Place: Stimulus Discrimination and Stimulus Generalization

Changing the Stimulus Control of a Behavior With Fading

Getting a New Sequence of Behaviors to Occur With Behavior Chaining

Differential Reinforcement Procedures to Decrease Behavior

Decreasing Behavior With Punishment

Establishing Behavior by Escape and Avoidance Conditioning

Respondent and Operant Conditioning Together

Transferring Behavior to New Settings and Making It Last: Generality of Behavior Change

Antecedent Control: Rules and Goals

Antecedent Control: Modeling, Guidance, and Situational Inducement

Antecedent Control: Motivation

Behavioral Assessment: Initial Considerations

Direct Behavioral Assessment: What to Record and How

Doing Behavior Modification Research

Planning, Applying, and Evaluating a Behavioral Program

Token Economies

Helping an Individual to Develop Self-Control

Approaches to Behavior Therapy: Cognitive Restructuring; Self-Directed Coping Methods; and Mindfulness and Acceptance Procedures

Psychological Disorders Treated by Behavioral and Cognitive Behavioral Therapies

Giving It All Some Perspective: a Brief History

Ethical Issues

Shaping and Schedules of Reinforcement: A Comprehensive Guide

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