Operant Conditioning in ABA

Applied behavioral analysis is seen today as the gold standard treatment plan for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ABA therapy has been proven very successful at helping children build the social, communication and daily life skills that they may often struggle with.

There are many different techniques that ABA therapists use to help children modify their behaviors. One of the basic principles is known as operant conditioning.

Sometimes referred to as instrumental learning, this concept is based on the teachings of B.F. Skinner, who first coined the term nearly 100 years ago. Operant conditioning believes that through reinforcement, you can modify people’s behaviors over time so that they exhibit desired behaviors more often and reduce the incidents of negative behaviors.

Below, we’ll describe operant conditioning in ABA in-depth and how the concept has evolved in ABA therapy over time.

Read more: Discriminative Stimulus in ABA Therapy

Table Of Contents

Where Does Operant Conditioning Come From?

Skinner built his concept of operant conditioning on studies that Edward L. Thorndike conducted before him. Through his research, Thorndike developed what he called the “Law of Effect.”

The basics of this theory, according to the American Psychology Association, is “that consequences of behavior act to modify the future probability of occurrence of that behavior.” In other words, people are more or less likely to repeat a behavior in the future based on what the likely consequence of that behavior is.

For instance, if a child receives a lot of praise after they exhibit a desired behavior, they’re more likely to repeat that behavior again in the future. Likewise, if the consequence of a certain behavior is negative, they’re less likely to repeat that behavior in the future.

What Types of Reinforcement are Used in Operant Conditioning?

At one point in the past, a reward-and-punishment system was used in ABA therapy to encourage certain behaviors and discourage others. While both positive and negative reinforcement are still used in ABA therapy today, the latter isn’t associated with punishment.

ABA therapists will use positive reinforcement to encourage children to repeat desired behaviors. For example, if a child successfully picks up their toothbrush when they are shown a picture of a toothbrush, the therapist may respond by giving the child extra praise or some time with a toy they love.

If the child doesn’t exhibit the desired behavior, they are not punished for it. Instead, the therapist won’t react at all. The idea is that by not rewarding the child, they will learn that what they are doing isn’t what is wanted.

ABA therapists will also work with patients on reducing negative behaviors. This could be huge outbursts or reactions that could be physically harmful to them, such as banging their head on the ground.

Again, punishments aren’t used in ABA therapy to discourage these behaviors. Instead, rewards are given when children exhibit alternative ways of expressing themselves, rather than displaying the potentially harmful behaviors.

How Does Operant Conditioning Apply to ABA Therapy?

The goal of operant conditioning is to get a better understanding of people through the behaviors that they outwardly exhibit. Through observation, quantifiable data will be produced that can then be tracked an analyzed.

This data collection and analyzation is what serves as the core of the ABA therapy treatment plan for each individual child. The ABA therapist will use it to develop a specific, personalized treatment plan that helps to modify each patient’s behavior based on well-informed strategies.

The observation period is an essential aspect of ABA therapy, since the treatment plans are so specific to each individual child.

More than just creating an ABA therapy treatment plan, though, therapists will constantly collect and analyze data as the child is progressing through the treatment plan. This allows the therapist to track the child’s progress toward specific goals, and make necessary adjustments based on this progress, or lack thereof.

Without collecting more data, and tracking this progress, it would be next to impossible for the therapist to create achievable goals for their patients. ABA therapists will collect and analyze all this data, and then also share it with parents of children with autism so they can see what’s working, what’s not and what might have to change to continue making progress.

Trust Blue Gems ABA with Your Child’s Treatment Plan

Operant conditioning is a term that’s nearly 100 years old now, but it still has significant relevance in the world of behavioral science. It’s used as a main principle of ABA therapy, helping to guide the modification of certain behaviors that patients exhibit.

At Blue Gems ABA, our team of experienced BCBAs integrate operant conditioning into all ABA therapy treatment plans. By constantly collecting, tracking and analyzing data, we are able to create and personalize specific treatment plans that address the unique strengths and challenges of each individual child.

To learn more, please contact us today.