Episode 1: Setting up for Success

Show Notes:

Discussion 

Three considerations regarding setting a learner up for success:

  1. Why set up for success?  Setting the learner up to do desired behaviors allows them to contact a reinforcement history for those behaviors (instead of different behaviors).
  2. Define what “success” in a specific context looks like using actionable and measurable behaviors. 
  3. When is the behavior likely to happen and when is it likely to not happen?

We discuss a few simple human and animal examples.

Note: Sara wanted to add that you can use simulations or training to build a reinforcement history for “sharing” or “taking turns” for any learner, even those without verbal communication skills.  

Definitions
Reinforcement: Strengthening the future probability of a behavior through a consequence or outcome following the behavior.

Antecedent: Any part of the environment that is in place or occurs before the behavior.

Environment: Anything or anyone, inside or outside of the learner, that can influence their behavior.

Reinforcement history: All the reinforcers that have affected a person’s behavior up to the present. (http://www.scienceofbehavior.com/lms/mod/glossary/view.php)

Reinforcers: The specific event that follows a behavior that results in that behavior occurring again.

Simulations: Setting up a scenario that is similar to an expected future scenario, with the goal of shaping desired behaviors and establishing positive associations. This can involve starting with lower criteria to bring out desired behaviors, and positively reinforcing them. 

Shaping: Reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behavior.

Coming next week: 
Behaviors Are Built and Maintained by Reinforcement

Contact Info
Laura Perkins
Website: lauraperkinsanimalbehavior.com
Email: lauraperkinsanimalbehavior@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/LauraPerkinsAnimalBehavior
Instagram: instagram.com/lauraperkinsanimalbehavior

Sara Crockett
Email: saracrockettckbc@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/ContingentOnKindness
Instagram: instagram.com/contingentonkindness