Interventions for Decreasing Problem Behavior

Course overview

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a scientific approach to the study of behavior. Through this field, behavior analysts can observe behavior in the natural environment and identify what is maintaining the behavior and any environmental factors that are preventing other behaviors from being exhibited. Appropriate replacement behaviors are identified for the challenging behavior being exhibited and reinforcement is provided for alternative or more appropriate behaviors. Behavioral interventions are typically implemented with individuals in an effort to reduce or eliminate a challenging behavior or to increase an adaptive, more appropriate behavior. These interventions usually include the integration of some type of environmental manipulation. A multitude of interventions that are evidence-based are available for behavior analysts to integrate into a program in an effort to reduce the exhibition of challenging behaviors. Some of these interventions include antecedent interventions while other interventions include the use of an extinction procedure. In this course, participants will learn to (1) identify antecedent interventions for challenging behaviors, (2) identify function-based extinction procedures for use with challenging behaviors, and (3) discuss token economies and the limitations that are associated with using these systems.