Scenario

Frank is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who works with Changing Directions, an agency that provides community-based mental health services. The agency received a behavior analysis referral from a pediatrician for a 10-year-old boy named Michael. Michael's mother, Katherine, has had some significant problems with his behavior for as long as she can remember, but these problems have increased over the past two years. Michael engages in verbally aggressive behavior at home, including yelling/arguing with his mother and siblings, as well as property destruction in the form of breaking toys, breaking household items, and kicking holes in the wall. Michael has begun to display similar behaviors in the school setting, which has resulted in his mother having to leave work to pick him up. Katherine received a promotion at her current job over a year ago, which has required a significant increase in her work hours and less time with the children. In an initial interview, Katherine reports that she has grounded Michael when he has "acted out" and has tried to reward Michael when he has "behaved well," but nothing appears to work. Frank conducted a functional behavior assessment (FBA) that indicated that much of Michael's behavior appeared to serve the function of positive reinforcement in the form of social attention from his mother.

Discussion

• How are antecedent interventions used as a behavior intervention strategy?
• Define each of the following:
  • Differential reinforcement of alternative (DRA) behavior
  • Differential reinforcement of incompatible (DRI) behavior
  • Differential reinforcement of other (DRO) behavior
  • Differential reinforcement of low rates (DRL) of behavior
• Based upon the probable function of the target behavior, as determined by the FBA, illustrate the differential reinforcement approach that you feel would be most appropriate to address Michael's target behavior and explain how you would implement this BIP.

Reference

Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2019). Applied Behavior Analysis (3rd ed.). Pearson Education (US). https://purdueuniversityglobal.vitalsource.com/books/9780134798769