Extinction: When an observed behavior goes away entirely because of the reinforcement procedure that has been applied to the situation. An extinction burst, occurs when the reinforcement that caused a behavior has been removed, initially there will be an increase in the observed behavior. This is an attempt of the subject to try to obtain […]
Ivan Pavlov’s work is also important to the field of ABA. He worked in the late 1800s to early 1900s in the field of classical conditioning (FK-13-14). Classical conditioning is the process of pairing an unconditioned response with a conditioned response. In the case of Pavlov, he paired the unconditioned response of a bell sound […]
The experimental branch of behavior analysis began in 1938 with the publication of B. F. Skinner’s book, The Behavior of Organisms. Skinner used operant conditioning, which uses the consequences of behavior to shape future behavior. Operant behaviors are not elicited by preceding stimuli but instead are influenced by stimulus changes that have followed the behavior […]
Spring break is approaching and that means summer break is around the corner. Research shows summer inactivity contributes to youth weight gain. A story by NPR describes studies that show weight gain over the summer may be due to a number of factors. For one, kids and teens may eat more and have more screen […]
The New Year often brings resolutions of positive, sometimes dramatic changes to our lifestyles. Goals of weight loss, exercise, healthy eating, organization, or career accomplishment are commonly kick-started by the changing of the calendar. No matter what the goal, the one thing that they tend to have in common is that they are forgotten or abandoned […]
Although it is clear that parents who are involved in their children’s education contribute to their well-being and success, overparenting can do more harm than good. Parents can be a source of support for their children, or they can create frustrating obstacles to success. Although parents are well intentioned, the dangers of overparenting, sometimes referred to […]
A recent article published by Slate brings attention to the possible negative impact of being too invested and involved in our children’s lives and success, described as “helicopter parenting.” Dr. Brooks discussed this in an earlier blog (when “Tiger Parenting” was the descriptor). The Slate authors highlight recent studies revealing increasing mental health problems among […]
Before the school year becomes a distant, faded memory, it can be helpful to sit down with your son or daughter to do a positive “school year wrap-up.” This exercise prompts self-reflection and helps your child make connections between actions and outcomes. It is good to connect the dots while memories of the school year […]
When we want to reduce our kids’ screen time, one of the best ways is preventative, on the front end. It’s so easy nowadays for kids (and adults) to turn to the screen to find something to do. While this convenience has its benefits, it ultimately keeps us in the “shallows” of living. The deeper, need-satisfying […]