Behavior-Change Procedures
Reinforcement-based procedures
Know DRA (differential reinforcement of alternative behavior), DRI (incompatible), DRO (other behavior), DRL and DRH (low and high rates). FCT (functional communication training) is a DRA variant that teaches a functionally equivalent communicative response. Token economies and behavioral contracts arrange conditioned reinforcement and clear contingencies. Shaping reinforces successive approximations; chaining teaches response sequences (forward, backward, total task). Prompting hierarchies and prompt fading build independent responding.
Decreasing behavior
Extinction, punishment (positive and negative), response cost, time-out, and overcorrection reduce behavior. Punishment procedures require informed consent, monitoring, and preference for less restrictive options. Extinction should be paired with reinforcement of an alternative; otherwise it may produce bursts and aggression.
Antecedent interventions
Noncontingent reinforcement, high-probability request sequences, behavioral momentum, priming, and environmental rearrangement reduce motivation for problem behavior.
Rule of thumb
Match the procedure to the function. Attention-maintained behavior responds to attention-based DRA or NCR; escape-maintained behavior responds to escape extinction plus FCT or demand fading.
Worked example
For escape-maintained aggression, DRA of requesting a break plus escape extinction is function-matched. Using time-out for the same behavior would likely function as escape and worsen the problem-a classic trap.