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CEU Event. Eb Blakely, Ph.D., BCBA-D Ansley Hodges, M.S., BCBA. Signs of Damage: Skinner. From "Contingencies of Reinforcement" - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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CEU Event
Eb Blakely, Ph.D., BCBA-DAnsley Hodges, M.S., BCBA
Signs of Damage: Skinner From "Contingencies of Reinforcement"
Page 51: "The principle also holds for aggressive behavior. At a time when men were often plundered and killed, by animals and other men, it was important that any behavior which harmed or frightened predators should be quickly learned and long sustained. Those who were most strongly reinforced by evidences of damage to others should have been most likely to survive."
Page 129: "A person who is at the moment aggressive is one who, among other characteristics, shows a heightened probability of behaving verbally or nonverbally in such a way that someone is damaged..."
Page 195: "Azrin, for example, has studied the stereotyped, mutually aggressive behavior evoked when two organisms receive brief electric shocks. But he and his associates have also demonstrated that the opportunity to engage in such behavior functions as a reinforcer and, as such, may be used to shape an indefinite number of "aggressive" operants of arbitrary topographies. Evidence of damage to others may be reinforcing for phylogenic reasons because it is associated with competitive survival. Competition in the current environment may make it reinforcing for ontogenic reasons."
Signs of Damage: StimuliWhat stimuli are involved?Visual stimuli – blood, bruising, scratches, “upset” expressions
Auditory stimuli – crying, screamingResponse produced stimuli – pressure on teeth, pressure on hands/feet
Early Non-Human ResearchShock “elicited” fightingSubjects: RatsProcedure: Rats exposed to shockMeasure: # of episodes of fightingAggression was called “reflexive”Results: Most shocks evoked fighting
Early Non-Human ResearchShock “elicited” biting of inanimate objectsSubjects: RatsProcedure: Rats exposed to shockMeasure: # of episodes of biting of metal, wood,
or rubber targets
Early Non-Human ResearchAggression evoked by schedules of reinfSubjects: PigeonsProcedure: Ss exposed to FR 50Measure: # attacks to target pigeonResults: Most attacks occurred during PRP
Early Non-Human ResearchWhat kind of target is the best?Subjects: PigeonsProcedure: Ss exposed to FR 80-120Measure: # attacks to target (Mirror, Live
protected, Stuffed)
Early Non-Human ResearchBiting as a function of FR sizeSubjects: Squirrel monkeysProcedure: Ss exposed to FR schedules (50-200)Measure: # bites of a rubber hoseResults: 1) Most biting occurred in PRP as a
function of ratio size 2) also occurred in Ext
Early Non-Human ResearchBiting evoked by schedules of reinforcement
Does Effort Matter?
Subjects: Pigeons Procedure: Ss exposed to
FR and yoked schedules of free food (MT = matched time)
Measure: # attacks
Early Non-Human ResearchOpportunity to Aggress: Is it a reinforcer?Subjects: Squirrel monkeysProcedure: Chain pulls rubber ball to biteResults: Presentation of ball reinforced/maintained
chain pulls
Early Non-Human ResearchOpportunity to Aggress: Is it a reinforcer?
Early Non-Human ResearchOpportunity to Aggress: Is it a reinforcer?Subjects: PigeonsProcedure: 1) FI schedule for food and 2) 2nd key pecks access to a target pigeon
Recent Non-Human ResearchOpportunity to Aggress: Is it a reinforcer?Subjects: MiceProcedure: Intruder mouse presented after completion
of FR 8 vs ExtResults: Concurrent food schedule not needed
SummaryAversive stimuli will evoke aggression
Shock Reinforcement offset Work requirements Heat Strikes to body
The opportunity to aggress will function as a reinforcer for behavior Most likely occurs when aversive stimuli are present May occur in absence of such stimuli in some members of
species
ConclusionsAggression evoked by aversive stimuli is not a
respondent
If operant, what reinforces it? Signs of damage (cf Skinner): cowering, crying, blood, running away Pressure on body part used to attack (e.g., teeth, fists)
How do we talk about this? Signs of damage and/or related stimuli may be naturally reinforcing in
some species, or some members of a species EO s may be aversive events and schedules of reinforcement
We should address this in behavioral assessment and Tx
Implications
Standard Functional Analyses Unclear results But naturalistic observations suggested that attention was a factor, but
attention was given in loud, emotionally-charged bouts
David M. Richman and Louis P. Hagopian
Implications
Idiosyncratic Conditions in Functional Analysis Exaggerated Attention: “dramatic reaction to Tim’s destructive behaviors
that included a high level of voice intonation, verbal phrases such as “I can’t believe that you just did that,” and physical signs of displeasure such as waving his/her hands frantically. “
Functional Analyses Results
Case #1 FAHigher rates of problem behavior when caregiver
reacted “upset” than when caregiver provided a neutral reprimand, or during no attention conditions
Seeks out other kids crying
Case #2 FAThrowing items/tipping chairs increased when mom
reacted “frustrated” or “aggravated” compared to neutral reprimands.
Case Study #3
Descriptive assessment information Engages in SIB (arm scratching, and picking) during free
time that produces blood Looks for bruising after aggression Aggression is more likely in presence of aversive stimuli
(e.g., denied access to items/activities, work requirements) Property destruction when denied access – and would
carefully look at the item Would mand for item to break!
Case Study #3
Blood Water Dora Book Drawing Nuts Bandaid0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Preference Assessment Over 4 Exposures
Ran
k
Case Study #3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 70
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Sessions
Fre
qu
ency
of
sele
ctin
g s
qu
are
= = Blood = Blood = Blood
Reinforcer Assessment: Conc FR 1 Ext
Case Study #3
Tx elements Replacement skill: Select alternatives when denied access Waiting Fade in work requirements Mand for delay of reinforcer offset
Calendar of when events will occur Extinction? Can signs of damage be withheld? Wear long sleeves during sessions
Punishment – loss of items/activities/contingent exercise
Extensions
Unexplained phenomena “Extinction-induced” aggression – is it “reflexive?”Extinction as EO for signs of damage and other
concomitant stimuliSide effects of punishment: aggression!Punishment stimuli as EO for signs of damage and
other concomitant stimuli
Implications for Tx and AssessmentBehavior Assessment
Preference assessments Standard preference assessments with signs of damage stimuli Preference assessments in presence of aversive stimuli
Interviews should address this Functional analyses with signs of damage
Cowering targets “Angry” caregivers Contingent property destruction Objects to hit/bite (safely!)
Tx procedures Antecedent manipulations Replacement skills Concurrent schedules of reinforcement for appropriate behavior Reduction procedures
Go
Sample Program
Antecedent Manipulations Remove target - When sister hits Fred, separate Remove target during work requirements - Keep sister
away from Fred when she is engaged in chores Frequent physical games Have potential targets do pairing Wear long sleeves during sessions?
Acquisition Skills Mands for physical activity Select alternatives when denied access Be willing to use large magnitude reinforcers
Waiting programs Slowly increase wait time Especially consider waiting in divided attention situations
Function: Signs of Damage
Sample Program
Acquisition Skills (continued) Task completion Slowly increase response requirements Use large magnitude reinforcers Consider VR instead of FR schedules
Reduction Procedures Removal of targets Extinction: Withhold damage if possible Punishment? Side effects! Punishment maybe an EO for further signs of
damage maintained aggression
Function: Signs of Damage
The End
Implications (continued)
Structured Interview Questions Does the person seek out items to break? Does the person seek out blood or injury? After aggression, does the person attempt to see the injuries of the
victim? Does the behavior occur when denied access to items/activities, even
though they have not been given after the behavior? Does the person aggress after consuming a reinforcer for which he/she
had to work hard? Does the person seem to enjoy seeing others upset? Does the person tend to throw objects when denied access to
items/activities?
Return
Aggression as a Built-in Reinforcer
Betta Splendens
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