Fw: [VerbalBehavior] Re:reinforcing a tantrum

February 24, 2007

Sharon, I cannot remember which list you are on so I am forwarding this

associated post to the reinforcing a tantrum discussion.

----- Forwarded Message ----

From: Lynette <lynette_r@...>

" VerbalBehavior " <VerbalBehavior >

Sent: Saturday, February 24, 2007 4:37:27 PM

Subject: [VerbalBehavior] Re:reinforcing a tantrum

I can support suggestion as I am actually utilizing his

approach (to the best I can understand it) with a child I have only been

teaching for about three months.

The first six weeks or so I did my traditional pairing , fading in demand, and

then met with extreme resistance when trying to teach new material.

The child had a history of resistance to table work and could tantrum like no

other.

It was about this time that I read book.

One should also understand that I came from the traditional Lovaas style aba

which was all we had available 12 years ago when my daughter started her

therapy. So the vb approach with lots of pairing and teaching away from the

table was already a departure for me , tho I had adapted a lot of what I do

since the big Carbone invasion about 8 years ago.

Because I had just started with this child it was easy to transition to 's

approach. Though I lack total conficence in my ability to not only implement the

suggestions but also guide the family in doing the same, I can tell you the

results are blowing me away.

The child who tantrummed at the first physical prompt for a new nvi response is

now acquiring new responses within two sessions and yesterday performed a novel

response during a song with no prompt at all!

What I did was just as suggests - initially I worked in one small room

( doesn't necessarily suggest this but I find it easier to control

reinforcement in the environment) and completely took control of all the childs

favorite items. Spending a large amount of time pairing, coupled with the

arsenal of beloved " stimmy things " has created a situation where the child will

approach me if I stop interacting or get out an activity. I am able to prompt

without evoking a tantrum for the most part - however it is still in the

building stage so I do at times push too much at which time I allow the child to

leave but since there was no earning of the highly desired reinforcers I am

getting very weak and short objections.The child is returning to try again. At

that point I can back down on the demand for a couple trials or sing a song to

reinforce returning ,then go back to the acquistion task unless I decide that it

was inappropriate.

I have not had to use escape extinction and I am now able to work with the child

around the home and enjoying the development of actual instructional control. I

do not feel that I am reinforcing the tantrumming ,or at this point the

resistance, because of the aspect of differential reinforcement involved. And I

am seeing the value of child choice. I am also seeing , with amazement I might

add, how much the child is actually capable of but was not showing us due to a

high level of investment in avoidance and control behaviors.

I will add the process is much more challenging with an established program

where the child is used to controlling others with their behavior. More to come

on that. Lynette

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February 24, 2007