Antecedent Control Procedures

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Chapter 16

• Antecedent Control Procedures

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Antecedent Control Procedures

• Based on functional assessment information
• One of three functional, nonaversive
  interventions
• Involves altering the environment in advance of
  the target behavior
• Addresses antecedents rather than consequences of
  operant behavior
• Addresses consequences indirectly through
  manipulation of establishing operations
• Increases the probability of the desirable target
  behavior and decreases the probability of
  undesirable alternative behavior
• Also called stimulus control procedures or
  situational inducement

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Procedures to Increase the Probability of the
Desirable Target Behavior

• 1. Present SD or cues for desirable behavior
• 2. Present EO for desirable behavior
• 3. Decrease response effort for desirable
  behavior

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Present SD or cues for desirable behavior

• The desirable behavior is under the stimulus
  control of the SD
• When the SD is present, the behavior is more
  likely
• Cues serve as prompts or reminders
• Examples

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Examples Presenting SDs or cues

• Seating arrangement to facilitate conversation in
  a nursing home
• Reminder to floss on the bathroom mirror
• Fruit in the fridge
• Going to the library to study
• Activity placemats at restaurants

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Present EO for desirable behavior

• An EO makes the reinforcer for the desirable
  behavior more potent
• An EO increases the probability of the desirable
  behavior
• Examples

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Examples Presenting EOs

• No snacks before meal time
• Arrange a contact for getting work done
• No naps to make sleeping more likely at night
• Pictures of rotten teeth to make flossing more
  likely
• Decrease wait time for MR person who has to stand
  in line at a store

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Decrease response effort for desirable behavior

• A behavior is more probable when it requires less
  response effort than does a concurrent operant
• Response effort may be decreased through
  environmental manipulation
• Examples

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Examples Decreasing response effort

• Recycling box next to desk
• Healthy foods in easy reach
• Books in backpack
• Easy to use car seats
• Coffee shop on every corner

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Procedures to Decrease the Probability of
Competing (Undesirable) Behavior

• 1. Remove SDs or cues for competing behaviors
• 2. Eliminate EOs for competing behaviors
• 3. Increase response effort for competing
  behavior

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Remove SDs or cues for competing behaviors

• In the absence of the SD, the competing behavior
  is less likely
• Examples

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Examples Removing SDs or cues

• Get junk food out of the house
• Keep partying friends out of your place at study
  time
• Separate fighting kids at the restaurant
• Dont drive past McDonalds after school

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Eliminate EOs for competing behaviors

• Without an EO, the reinforcer for competing
  behavior will not be potent
• Without an EO, the competing behavior is less
  likely to occur
• Examples

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Examples Removing EOs

• Curriculum modifications to reduce problem
  behavior maintained by escape
• Noncontingent attention, tangibles, or breaks
• Provide choice of activities
• Pain relief
• Mood induction
• Food shopping only after eating

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Increase response effort for competing behavior

• A behavior that requires more response effort
  than a concurrent operant is less likely
• Response effort is increased through
  environmental manipulation
• Examples

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Examples Increase response effort

• No change in pockets/purse for candy machines
• No junk food in the house
• Seat aggressive person away from victim
• Keep trash can away from desk (recycle box on
  desk)

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Using Antecedent Control Procedures

• Assess antecedents and consequences for desirable
  behavior and competing behavior
• Assess response effort for desirable and
  competing behaviors
• Determine which relevant SDs and EOs you can
  manipulate
• Determine whether you can manipulate response
  effort for desirable or competing behaviors

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Factors that influence the use of antecedent
control procedures

• Have you identified the relevant antecedents?
• Can these antecedents be altered?
• How acceptable will it be to alter these
  antecedents?