Question

Do you agree with how ABA-based procedures reduce maladaptive behaviors? Please fully justify your answer. Next, do you believe that, given this approach, there are any cases that justify the use of aversive consequences to reduce behavior? Why or why not? Again, please fully justify your answer.

Answer 1

Maladaptive behavior are those behaviors some people use

to avoid directly facing the discomfort of a new situation or enviornment.

eg :- When a person feels it hard or as a challenge in woking in the office sometimes turns to use alcoho or drugs for refuge.

If one has social anxiety disorder he may show maladaptive behavior to reduce anxiety and fear at that moment.

ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis ) based therapy is used as a scientific approach for understanding different behaviors and is used to improve or change specefic behavior.

ABA procedure is a treatment based on behaviorist theories which believes that desired behaviors can be taught through a system of rewards and consequences. It is commonly used as a treatment in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.It is clinically proven that this therapy can improve social communication and learning skills through positive reinforcement.ABA therapy is most effective in children at younger age ( below 5). ABA helps to teach social, motor and verbal behaviors,as well as reasoning skills and works to manage challenging behavior.

Aversive cosequence refers to punishment.

ABA therapists under no circumstances will physically punish a child.

Positive punishment invoives adding an aversive cosequence after an undesired behavior is emitted to decrease future responses.Althoug punishment is usually considered as something bad it is a necessary part of learning.It teaches not to repeat cetain undesired behaviour.

Eg:- Touching a hot stove the fingers will get burned.

In ABA reinforcement is preferred over punishment ,But sometimes reinforcement alone is not sufficient and punishment is also needed to change a certain behavior.