Exploring Response Cost in ABA Therapy Step-by-Step Guide
The main motive behind implementing response cost in ABA sessions is to teach individuals the cause and effect relation, and how they work under given items/circumstances. Therefore, they learn the consequences of their negative actions and try to produce desired behaviors from their side. This means therapists should explore the pros and cons of response cost in ABA therapy before the session.
Patients are deprived of their treasured possessions to help them learn new behaviors. These can include keepsakes, favorite toys, and other items that make them contended. Response cost in ABA therapy is about reducing friction while making students learn new behaviors to certain stimuli. It is important to note that social interactions are also reduced. This is done to provide individuals with positive reinforcement in a controlled environment. In other words, their behavior analyst takes away stimuli that influence them. It is meant to achieve desired behaviors. By removing the items a child prefers, the probability of the negative behavior occurrence is reduced. A child realizes that he has to act in a way to get his cherished possessions.
With this being said, denoting the response cost in ABA therapy, a token economy system is issued. Later on, the practitioner reinforces the correct response. Otherwise, the behavior persists intermittently during the entire session.
Response Cost in ABA Therapy Examples
These can be implemented in various ways depending on the individual’s behavior and the goals of the therapy. Here are a few examples of how response cost may be used in ABA therapy:
- Token Economy: In this made-up monetary system, individuals must surrender the item(s) they enjoy the most. In return, they earn positive scores and, sometimes, even rewards for showing desired behavior. In contrast, a token (their favorite item) may be taken away if they produce undesired behaviors.
- Time-out: This type of response cost in ABA therapy denotes removing an individual from the environment setting, which causes them to engage in unwanted manners. For instance, an inmate is barred from entering the prison canteen due to his bad temper amid thrashing others. Another example is students being called to the principal’s office when they’re seen fighting with other students.
Item or Privilege Confiscation: In some instances, the response cost in ABA therapy here refers to depriving individuals of articles they enjoy using. It can even include the favorite time of the day and even a person they love talking with. For example, senior students who consistently bully their juniors during lunch breaks can lose their recess privileges. Older boys getting punished can decrease the likelihood of them hitting or teasing their juniors ever again.
Response Cost in ABA Therapy Alternatives
Learning positive behavior doesn’t involve the removal of preferred stimuli every time. Even environments and controlled settings can be adjusted to help individuals absorb new behaviors. Although the response ABA cost technique may be effective, this doesn’t mean it applies to everybody. There are several viable substitutes to increase desired behavioral patterns. Some of the best alternatives to the ABA response cost technique are as follows:
1. Positive Reinforcement
This is completely the opposite of the reduce-cost techniques. Here, the individual is rewarded gifts or given certain privileges when they engage in desired behavior. This works best with children. They are given treats or play time in homes or schools when they show positive outcomes for their performed demeanor/habits. It’s one of the best ways to improve the habits of school-going children.
For example, a child is given candy for every smile and courteous behavior they show in the classroom. The more they act upon it, the more the toffees. Besides rewards, even praising little children can impact their lives and decrease the likelihood of their bad conduct.
2. Differential Reinforcement
This is another great alternative to response cost in ABA therapy. It consists of underpinning a preferred behavior while disregarding the negative one. This method takes the uphill approach; it teaches individuals healthy habits while ignoring their incorrect actions.
Example: If some patient causes injuries to him or herself, such as banging their head on the wall or slashing their wrists open, they are offered differential reinforcement(s). this involves a communication device or skill acquisition that prevents them from recalling negative behaviors.
3. Extinction
Extinction is one of the best alternatives to response costs in ABA therapy. Here, the Aba therapist withholds the influencing stimuli of the undesired behavior. This method works by diminishing any possible negative demeanors individuals demonstrate by removing reinforces linked with those behaviors.
Example: Picture a self-absorbed individual who engages in attention-seeking behavior. His demeanor patterns may include crying, whining, sadness, and feeling of dejection from others. It is important to note that this response cost in ABA therapy alternative works best when only when they show specific behaviors. They are rewarded only if they communicate with a positive attitude and show good signs in their interaction skills.
Response Cost in ABA Therapy Promotes Positive Behavior
The main motive behind the Applied Behavior Analysis ABA session is to teach individuals the cause and effect relation and how they work under given items/circumstances. Therefore, they learn the consequences of their negative actions and try to produce desired behaviors from their side. Since the main goal is to eliminate undesirable behaviors, therapists should explore the pros and cons of response costs in ABA therapy before continuing the session.
Conclusion
Response cost in ABA therapy assists behavior analysts in promoting positive behavior and simultaneously seeing negative behaviors diminish in due course. This shows how breaking down complex behaviors into smaller parts can result in positive outcomes. This not only demonstrates the successful implementation response cost in ABA therapy but also helps depressed individuals lead normal lives.
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