Free ABA Resources for Parents
TLBA Kyle Strunk walks parents and guardians through the ABCs of behavior found in Applied Behavior Analysis. Change the way your family sees the world with ABA! This video provides Parent Training skills for parents and guardians of loved ones with Autism Spectrum Disorder and related developmental diagnoses.
The ABCs of Behavior
A – Antecedent
An antecedent is “An environmental or stimulus change existing or occurring prior to a behavior of interest. “That is a big word to digest for some, so let us refer to the antecedent as the “Trigger”. What this is saying is that a behavior only occurs when something in our environment triggers it to occur. Think cause and effect.
An antecedent can be many different things in the environment. A few examples are when a child see’s their favorite candy on the shelf at the store, a particular teacher they are not fond of, the sight of a playground on the way to school or being told they have a dentist appointment. Another great example is when kids see McDonalds “golden arches” they instantly start wanting a Happy Meal.
B – Behavior
As you might guess “B” stands for behavior. First off, what is considered behavior? According to Johnson & Pennypacker (2009, p. 31). The term “Behavior” is “That portion of an organism’s interaction with its environment that involves movement of some part of the organism.
Simply put, A behavior is anything that can be observed, measured, or counted. This can be when a child darts away from their parents in a crowded parking lot, whenever a child screams or interrupts a parent who is engaging in conversation, anything that we are able to observe and keep data on should be considered behavior.
Another easy way to know if something is behavior or not is “The Dead Man’s Test” This is something that all new clinicians in the field are familiar with. Simply put “If a dead man can do it, then it is not behavior.” I.E (laying down, being quiet, not-responding). This is a good tool to use if you are trying to identify if something is a behavior or not.
The importance of understanding behavior is that once we are able to identify a certain behavior, we can then work to create a program to change it.
C – Consequence
Finally, we arrive at the letter “C”, which stands for consequence. According to Cooper, J.O., Heron, T.E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). A consequence is “ A stimulus change that follows a behavior of interest.” Some consequences have the ability to influence future behaviors.
Put plainly, a consequence is anything that happens immediately after the behavior ceases. Some examples of this could be when a baby stops crying when he is given a bottle of formula, burning your hand on a hot stove, getting a speeding ticket for driving to fast. Some consequences can reinforce a behavior which makes it more likely that the same behavior will occur again in the future (i.e. baby getting a bottle after crying) , while other behaviors act as a punishment to decrease the likelihood of the behavior from occurring in the future (i.e. burning your hand or getting a speeding ticket.).
About ABA-LLC
ABA-LLC is one of the largest suppliers of Behavior Support in the State of Kentucky. Since 2007, the agency has created innovative strategies to improve the lives of unique individuals. ABA-LLC contracts with around 160 contractors, each dedicated to building an inclusive culture that celebrates individuals of all abilities. No matter who you are, you can reach your goals at ABA-LLC.
In everything the agency does, ABA-LLC is set apart from its competitors by its uniquely person-centered approach. The agency strives to provide services from a place of deep love for the population they serve. Their work exemplifies the belief that every individual has a right to live a fulfilling and independent life integrated within their communities. There is no objective to change a person, but rather to give them the tools they need to succeed. B.F. Skinner summarizes this vision in his quote: “I’m not trying to change people. All I want is to change the world in which they live.” Learn more about us at https://aba-llc.com/