ABA TERMINOLOGY
Below, you will find several definitions that we think are important to know when it comes to ABA.
FOUR FUNCTIONS OF BEHAVIOR
These are the four reasons WHY a behavior occurs. These occur in all living organisms.
Learning to acknowledge these functions is essential to ABA as it determines HOW we will respond effectively.
Automatic Reinforcement - A behavior that one demonstrates to gain personal reinforcement without any help from others.
Example: Thumb-sucking, rocking back and forth, hand-flapping, etc.
Escape/Avoid - A behavior that attempts to stop or postpone a non-preferred person, activity, or environment.
Example: Hearing loud noises and running away, yelling to get out of a task, or hiding from a person you do not like.
Attention - A Behavior that gains positive or negative attention from other individuals in the environment.
Example: A child screams, then parents turn and give child attention.
Access - A behavior that is demonstrated to gain preferred items, activities, or individuals.
Example: A child wants a candy bar at the store, parent says "no", child screams/cries to gain access to candy bar.
OTHER IMPORTANT TERMS
Antecedent - What precedes the behavior or event in question?
Did you ask a question? Did you give a task demand? Did you take something away?
Behavior - Any observable action a person does. It is neither good nor bad.
Examples: dancing, laughing, screaming, hitting, singing, etc.
Consequence - An event produced by another event or response, comes after a behavior occurs.
Example: After the boy sang to his mother, his mother picked him up & hugged him.
Positive - Presentation or giving of a stimulus.
Examples: Allowance, pay check, token, etc.
Negative - Removal or taking away of a stimulus.
Examples: Time out, taking away a preferred item, grounding, etc.
Reinforcement - A consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior reoccurring.
Punishment - A consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior reoccurring.
Replacement Behavior - An appropriate behavior that has the same functional equivalence as the target behavior.
Examples: Saying "excuse me" to gain attention vs. crying, asking for a break vs. refusing to complete an assignment
Reinforcer - Anything that is motivating for an individual.
Examples: a preferred toy, video game time after school, a break in a quiet room, etc.
Extinction - when a previously reinforced behavior is no longer reinforced.
Example: A tantrum to get a cookie is no longer effective to receive a cookie.
