Purdue University Global
Behavioral Principles and Applications in Human Services
- Motivating Operations: Establishing and Abolishing Operations
Behavioral change is determined by motivating operations comprising setting and erasing operations. The operational setup enhances reinforcement’s strength, making it more efficient in regulating behavior. Consider the example of thirst as an establishing operation: drinking becomes likely as soon as one is thirsty. Therefore, the high reinforcement value may form part of a strategic approach in behavior change interventions. Motivating operations (MOs) are critical in behavior analysis, involving events that alter the value of consequences and influence behavior. In Lattal’s work, MOs are talked about as both laying out (expanding) and canceling (diminishing) the adequacy of upgrades as reinforcers or punishers (Lattal, 2013). Understanding these tasks is fundamental to investigating, and molding exploratory plans and intercession methodologies. This work stresses the five mainstays of conduct investigation, featuring the meaning of MOs close by other vital standards. For example, scheduling meals around heightened cases of hunger will establish operations such that healthy eating is rewarding rather than depriving in obesity and weight loss programs. However, ceasing operations weakens the reinforcing power of that particular stimulus such that it can no longer influence behavior. For instance, drinking becomes less reinforcing when one is no longer thirsty. Abolishment can also be used in behavior change plans to reduce the attractiveness of negative actions (Davis & Akers, 2023). This may also include removing the appeal and, hence, its reinforcers as an option for one’s diet to assist in losing weight. These are among the motivating operations one deliberately changes when embarking on behavioral change techniques. Psychologists recognize when to increase or reduce the reinforcers’ strength to develop an appropriate intervention that increases the chances of the expected behavior change outcomes. Creating and scrapping operations is a sophisticated tool that helps human service practitioners design a specific and compelling plan for modifying behavior.
- Rule-Governed and Contingency-Shaped Behaviors
Verbal descriptions influence rule-governed behaviors, while contingency-shaped behaviors result from direct environmental interactions. Extinction is reexamined by (Van Haaren, 2020), who explores the difficulties associated with rule-guided and situationally-determined behaviors. This practical implication emphasizes how one can apply behavior analysis daily. This interaction shows how rules govern behavior and the contingencies necessary for designing better behavioral interventions. Following a traffic sign (rule-governed) contrasts with driving skillfully in heavy traffic (contingency-shaped). Both are vital but differ in origin and control (Pelaez, 2013). Rule-governed behaviors often rely on social learning, while contingency-shaped behaviors result from direct consequences.
- Processes of Behavior Modification: Reinforcement and Punishment
The behavior modification process involves using tools such as positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive Punishment, negative Punishment, and extinction, which are meant to change and modify a particular action or behavior. Positive reinforcement involves the addition of pleasing stimuli to enhance the probabilities of the behavior’s reoccurrence. For example, applauding a child for doing the laundry keeps them repeating that behavior. On the other hand, negative reinforcement entails eliminating an aversive stimulus to induce a similarly desirable result- enhancing the probability of a specific behavior. In real life, depriving a child of an undesirable duty after finishing homework negatively reinforces academic jobs.
In positive Punishment, an unpleasant stimulant is introduced to reduce the likelihood of a particular behavior. As another example, a teen who cannot use a phone since getting late will come to school on time less often. Negative Punishment is where the likelihood of a recurrence of the unwanted conduct will be decreased following the removal of the pleasant stimuli, like the teenager experiencing a cut down on his leisure time due to defying curfew, thus dissuading him from repeating this. Of the processes applied in behavior modification, extinction removes all reinforcements. For instance, extinction involves withdrawing attention that, in the past, reinforced tantrums and gradually led to their elimination. Human service professionals have a handy set of tools that can be used to change behavior and help improve lives.
- Stimulus and Stimulus Class
In behavioral analysis, any detectable event is seen as affecting behavior. A more refined way is to consider stimulus classes involving sets of similar stimuli. Similarly, single stimuli include red apples, and all red fruits represent stimulus class. Stimulus control describes on which basis particular stimuli are associated with a specific activity. From this point of view, generalization differs from discrimination when the behavior is directed only at stimuli identical to the primary one. The concepts regarding the classification of stimuli and generalization/ discrimination are crucial in our understanding of behavior change as human service workers.
- Response and Stimulus Prompt Fading in Stimulus Control
Response and stimulus prompt fading involves transferring stimulus control to more relevant stimuli. In Jasmine’s case, response prompt would focus Jasmine to generate the desired behavior at first, while a stimulus prompt would involve giving specific signals that encourage the suitable response (Cengher et al., 2018). Even so, the long-term objective will be to stop these cues and ensure Jasmine behaves independently when prompted.
Fading, the process of gradually decreasing the frequency of cues provided for behavior change, is a critical component in motivating behavior change. In Jasmine’s case, this may include fading out verbal cues or physical direction as she succeeds in the required behavior. Similarly, the fading phenomenon also means offering positive reinforcements to encourage desirable behaviors and suppress unwanted ones simultaneously (Barnes-Holmes et al., 2018). The phenomenom maintains that when a behavior change is achieved, it has to be sustained to maintain response control. Such tailor-made methods recognize an individual’s achievement and autonomous behavioral change processes to effective behavior change interventions in the human service profession.
- Verbal Behavior: Operant Paradigm and Elementary Verbal Operants
Language as a responsively emitted verbal behavior is viewed in terms of an operant approach: Language cast as a responsive act is seen through an operant lens. There are six elementary verbal operands – choices, mand, tact, intraverbal, textual, and transcription – comprising various linguistic actions. The word “echolalia” refers to repeating oneself; a mend is an instruction or order; a tact is a label, for example, the name of another country; texts include speaking and writing as we speak or write for ourselves. Some operants have particular matchups, while others seem more loosely related. Some operant responses are point-to-point, and some seem to reflect verbal behavior (Pelaez, 2013). Thus, this conceptualization of verbal operants has critical implications for understanding language development and planning intervention in a human service profession.
- Derived Stimulus Relations and Verbal Behavior Development
Verbal behavior is supported by derived stimulus relations, which demonstrate an individual’s ability to link stimuli acquired from previous learning. They aid in the development of vocal skills as well as cognition. Stimulus-derived relations and verbal behavior run hand in hand, impacting one’s language understanding and proficiency. Understanding how the relationship between stimuli is established is based on the three components of stimulus equivalency: reflexivity, symmetry, and transitivity (Barnes-Holmes et al., 2018). Reflexivity is identifying a stimulus as referring to oneself; symmetry indicates an opposite reaction to stimuli, and transitivity describes consecutive linking up of stimuli.
These components are necessary for developing complex stimulus relations, resulting in sophisticated verbal behavior. Reflexivity enables self-definition and understanding, reciprocity grants mutual ties, and transitiveness builds on a different kind of stimulus (Barnes-Holmes et al., 2018). However, it is possible to infer language development and cognition that fall within the framework of the human service course on a broad basis. Therefore, it is crucial to know about behavioral rules and how they can be utilized in human services. Motivating operations, behavioral processes, stimulus control, and verbal behavior provide a systematic method of behavior modeling and language development (Davis & Akers, 2023). Careful consideration of these principles can benefit people, causing a significant shift in thinking and behavior.
