Target Behavior Modification Case Studies Paper Example

Introduction

In psychology, target behavior is one which is chosen for change or modification. Before any behavior is evaluated and analysed, it should first be clearly defined in a concise manner (Martin & Pear, 2015). Instead of focusing on what a particular person should not be doing, the study concentrates on what should be done correctly. Furthermore, a behavior analyst should choose the behaviors that are socially significant. On the other hand, operational definition refers to the identification of a specific event that a particular researcher tests from (Martin & Pear, 2015). Operant conditioning is a method of learning through giving punishments and rewards. The primary goal of this case study is to identify and discuss the target behavior, operational definition, hypothesis, and operant conditioning of three children.

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Case 1: The Case of Bobby

Bobby is eight years old. Despite the fact that he is reminded frequently to clean up, his room is always in a state of disarray. His father would like to increase the frequency of Bobby cleaning his room. You are a behavior analyst, and you put together a behavior modification program for Mr. Kelly to use that will address the problem and incorporates operant conditioning.

Select and identify a target behavior for the increase in this case and provide an operational definition.

Target Behavior

The client will be reinforced for putting toys in designated storage bins every night before bed when told. Is recommended that the expected quantity of toys be increased an average of 2-3 toys every few days and also the times that he does the action, for example, .clean the room twice a month, then three times a month and so on. The client will be reinforced for following directions by parents and therapist. Parents and the therapist will shower the client with positive praise. When presented with the instruction to "clean","organize", and "pick up", Bobby will comply immediately to each request.

Operational Definition

Booby should learn to throw trash (candy wraps, papers) on in the bin and place his toys in designated areas for storage. His bed sheets should be done and comforter must not be on the floor for multiple days.

Identify and discuss the reinforcement system at work that is supporting the undesired target behavior. Define operant conditioning and explain how this method works to increase desired behavior.

Hypothesis

When Bobby is asked to clean his room, out of anger he engages in maladaptive behaviors defined as throwing trash and toys on the floor accompanied by yelling and rage. He usually does not behave in this manner but only when the demand for cleaning his room is placed. Parents most frequently respond to this behavior by cleaning the mess themselves and telling Bobby he doesn't have to do it anymore until next month. This reaction from the parents when the behavior displays may be reinforcing the behavior even more. Through the behavior, Bobby is attempting to communicate "I don't want to clean my room as often, I want to avoid the demand."

Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning occurs when a consequence follows a certain behavior, thus increasing the probability of the behavior reoccurring in future (Miltenberger, 2008). In this case, the behavior is reinforced by the parents when they allow the client to scape the demand placed on him. The parents ignore his behavior, and that's why it will most likely stay happening in the future. To change this and to increase the replacement behavior we most reinforce wanted behaviors instead. For example, if he puts a toy on a bin at the end of the night or anytime during the day, he will be regarded. Only the wanted behaviors will be reinforced, and the maladaptive ones will be put on extinction.

Select and outline a reinforcement-based intervention for this case and include your rationale for selection. Be sure to include a definition of positive reinforcement and operant conditioning in your discussion.

Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement occurs when a stimulus or event is presented and the probability of the behavior increases in the future (Miltenberger, 2008). In the case of Bobby praise will be used as reinforcement and occasionally a new toy will be given. The action explained above will increase the desired behavior of cleaning his room more often without engaging in the maladaptive behavior.

Case 2: The Case of Jackie

Case 2: Meet Jackie. She has a phobia of dogs that she has had since she was three years old. When Jackie was three years old, she was playing in her yard, and a neighbor's dog came up to her and bit her hand. Jackie had to go to the doctor and get stitches. Even though she is now 23 years old, she still remembers every detail and has an intense phobic reaction around dogs. Her heart beats fast, and she feels sick to her stomach. She would continue to avoid dogs, but she will soon be getting married to a dog trainer, so she needs to overcome her phobia of dogs. Jackie is coming to you, a behavior analyst, for help so she can marry her fiance and live happily ever after.

Identify the target behavior and provide an operational definition.

Target Behavior

Jackie cries hysterically when she sees a dog, and she hides in her car or behind someone to feel protected and secured very far from a canine.

Operational Definition

Running away from a dog, hiding to stay far away from canine, an occurrence of vocalization accompanied by tears for any period. An episode of intense fear suddenly accompanied by shortness of breath and excessive yelling.

Both classical and operant conditioning account for Jackie developing this phobia. Pick one and use it to explain why Jackie has remained fearful of dogs.

In this case, classical conditioning at is best because her responses are mainly involuntary. One of the things that make dealing with phobias so difficult for ABAs is that they are fighting reinforcement offered by the body's own ingrained learning mechanisms. The defensive behaviors that phobia patients engage in are wired deeply into the autonomic nervous system as legitimately protective behaviors designed to help the human organism survive (ABA, retrieved online, 2018). She has remained fearful of dogs because the phobia is making her stay away and avoid putting her self in situations where the fear can be projected to be irrational.

What can evidence-based behavior modification program be designed for Jackie so that she does not experience anxiety when seeing dogs? What is your rationale for selection?

The evidence-based behavior modification program is fit for this case is systematic desensitization. Systematic desensitization is a procedure developed by (Miltenberger, 2008) in which the person with a phobia practices relaxation while imagining scenes of the fear-producing stimulus. The steps to follow in her case are as follow: (when she manages to do step #1 and remain calm then we move to the next step and so on)

1. Think about a dog

2. Look at a photo of a dog.

3. Look at a dog in a cage

4. Come close to the cage

5. Touch the dog with gloves

6. Touch the dog with bare hands

7. Take the dog out of the cage and pet him

Fear-producing situations should be identified across the range of fear levels so that the hierarchy is composed of conditions with low, middle, and high fear scores (Miltenberger, pg. 480, 2008).

Case 3: The Case of Emma

Case 3: This is 4-year-old Emma. She loves to play with her toys, but she refuses to clean them up when she is asked. Her parents have tried hard to teach her to clean her room. They have offered her rewards. They also have put her in time out when she would not listen, but nothing has worked. Instead of cleaning, Emma gets mad and throws a big tantrum. She cries and screams. She sometimes even throws her toys and makes a bigger mess. She does this until her parents decide to pick her up and to clean up for her. You are a behavior analyst who will help Emma's parents get a handle on this behavior while she is still a little girl.

Identify the target behavior and provide an operational definition.

• Target Behavior
• Emma should clean up her toys quietly when asked to without crying and screaming.
• Operational Definition

Toys left on the floor, laying on the floor, crying (occurrence of sounds accompanied by tears), yelling (volume above normal conversational level) and throwing objects.

Discuss the principles of operant conditioning that may be maintaining Emma's current challenging behavior.

Hypothesis

When Emma is asked to clean her toys, she throws them on the floor and on the wall while yelling and cring. She behaves in this manner when the demand for cleaning up her toys is placed. Parents most frequently respond to this behavior by picking her up and cleaning the mess and gadgets themselves. This reaction from the parents when the behavior displays may be reinforcing the behavior even more. Through the behavior, Emma is attempting to communicate "I don't want to clean my toys, I want to avoid the demand."

Describe how you could apply operant conditioning theory to create an evidence-based behavior modification to address Emma's behavior. Outline all components of the procedure selected and be sure to provide the rationale for its selection based on the information provided in #2.

Operant Conditioning

In this case the behavior is been reinforced by the parents when they allow Emma to escape the demand placed on her. Her behavior is been reinforced by the parents and that's why the behavior will most likely stay happening in the future. Most likely the behavior must be put on extinction. Extinction is a fundamental principle of behavior in which eliminating the reinforcing consequence for a behavior results in a decrease in the frequency of the behavior. To use extinction, you must first identify the reinforcer that maintains the problem behavior and then eliminate it. A behavior that is no longer reinforced will decrease in frequency and stop (Miltenberger, 2008).

Conclusion

Operant conditioning is crucial since it reinforces the results of our actions. However, it is vital to understand the difference between positive and negative punishment. Positive reinforcement is used to increase the probability of desirable behavior. Operant conditioning is essential when learning new desirable behaviors with a motivating factor. On the other hand, classical conditioning is a type of learning in which a conditioned and unconditioned stimulus are associated to produce a conditioned response. Some of the advantages of classical conditioning include high success rate in behavior modification and protecting an individual from harm.

References

Applied Behavior Analysis as Therapy for Treating Fears and Phobias. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.appliedbehavioranalysisedu.org/fears-and-phobias/

Martin, G., & Pear, J. J. (2015). Behavior modification: What it is and how to do it. Psychology Press.

Raymond G. Miltenberger (2008). Behavior Modification: Principles and Procedures, Fifth Edition

Wolpe, J. (1958). Psychotherapy by reciprocal inhibition. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.