Generalization of Behavioral Intervention Strategies in the

Home and School Settings

Understanding Behavior

• Behavior is any response that is observable and measurable.

• Behavior is what a child does; not who a child is.

• Behavior can be decreased and increased through reinforcement and punishment.

Reinforcement

• Reinforcement: behavior that results in a preferred outcome is more likely to occur in the future

Examples:

Baby cries

Child tells joke

Parent gives bottle

People laugh at joke

Tendency to cry increases

Tendency to tell jokes increases

Punishment

• Punishment: behavior that results in an undesired outcome is less likely to occur in the future

Examples:

Person speeds

Receive a speeding ticket

Tendency to speed decreases

Person touches hot object

Hurts hand Tendency to touch the object decreases

Why Challenging Behavior Happens

• Children engage in challenging behavior in order to gain access to something.

• The four functions of behavior are:– Attention– Escape– Access to items or activities– Sensory Stimulation

Examples of Behavior Change Strategies Used in the School Setting

• Activity Schedules• Reinforcement Systems– Some with punishment component

Activity Schedule Example

Token Economy Example

How to Generalize Strategies in the Home and Community Setting

Activity Schedules and Token Economies can be made at home.– Parents can create/print paper copies or write out

on paper– Many applications are available if your child has

access to technology.

Activity Schedule Example

Parent-Made Activity Schedule

Token Economy Sample

Parent-Made Token Economy

Generalization

• Strategies can be generalized across settings.

• Using systems that children have been successful with in the past can promote successful behavior in new settings.